Felons have questions about getting jobs with criminal records. We have answers!

What companies hire felons?

There are many companies near you that hire ex-offenders. Employers are finding out that hiring qualified people who happen to have criminal records makes good business sense. There are many companies that have taken this a step further. They have signed a pledge to have fair practices when it comes to considering ex-offenders and felons for jobs.

AAMCO Transmissions and Auto Care*
Apple Inc.*
Applebee’s*
AT&T*
Best Foods
Best Western*
Buffalo Wild Wings*
Chick-fil-a*
Chili’s*
The Coca-Cola Company*
Darden Restaurants*
Deer Park Spring Water Co.*
Delta Air Lines*
Denny’s*
Dole Foods*
Dollar Rent A Car*
Dollar Tree*
Domino’s Pizza*
Family Dollar*
Federal Express*
General Electric*
General Mills*
Golden Corral*
Hilton Hotels*
Home Depot*
IHOP*
IKEA*
JiffyLube*
Jimmy John’s*
KFC*
Koch Industries*
Kohl’s*
Kraft Foods*
Kroger*
Longhorn Steakhouse*
Lowes*
MGM Resorts International*
Microsoft*
MillerCoors*
PACTIV*
Papa John’s*
Pepsi-Co*
Raddison Hotels*
Red Lobster*
Red Robin*
Safeway*
Salvation Army*
Sam’s Club*
Shell Oil*
Staples*
Starbucks*
Under Armor*
United Airlines*
Verizon*
Walgreens*
Wal-Mart*
Wyndham Hotels*
Xerox*

This is just a partial list of Companies that have signed the Fair Chance Pledge To get the entire list, Click Here!

Can a felon be Bonded?

There are programs sponsored by the government that can help ex-offenders and felons to get jobs. One is The Federal Bonding Program. Employers may have concerns that keep them from hiring people with criminal records, poor work history or or other situations that make it difficult for them to get hired. Many employers may not want to hire felons since they feel their criminal histories make them more likely to steal or commit other acts of dishonesty.

Many felons cannot be bonded by private insurance companies. A bond is an insurance policy that protects an employer against money or property loss due to employee dishonesty. Certain criminal convictions make many felons ineligible for bonding by private companies.

“The Federal Bonding Program” is a program supported by the federal government through the Department of Labor. This program was created to help high-risk, but otherwise qualified, job seekers who have offers of employment. The Federal Bonding Program offers an insurance policy that protects employers against any possible losses incurred due to actions by high-risk employees. The program is designed to help ex-offenders and felons who are qualified to work but need a second chance. Read More

What is Expungement?

In some cases criminal convictions may be legally “sealed” and can only be examined by order of the court. This called expungement. To seal a criminal record means that a criminal proceeding is ordered by a judge to be hidden from public view.

The records are not erased because under certain circumstances, a court can order that sealed records be reopened. Generally, however, the effect of sealing is the court acts as if the information in the record never existed.

Once a criminal record is sealed, all of the proceedings in it are treated as if they never occurred. Persons may then properly and lawfully answer any questions about the arrest, acquittal, conviction etc., as though they never occurred. In a job interview or even under oath a sealed conviction can be denied.

Even though a record is sealed, government, law enforcement and court agencies will always have access to it.

Jobs for Felons – Frequently Asked Questions