The Advantages of Hiring Ex-Cons

According to the Department of Corrections in Jacksonville, Florida, securing employment following prison release in one of the most significant factors in preventing relapses into crime. Yet the vast majority of employers are adamant against hiring ex-convicts, despite that the majority of ex-convicts are willing and eager to return to work. Understanding that the estimated 25 to 40 percent unemployment rate among ex-offenders is a likely contributor to the 44 percent relapse rate for ex-offenders within only a year of being released, the federal government offers incentives to employers who offer ex-offenders a chance to turn their lives around.

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Work Opportunity Tax Credit

Established in 1996, the Work Opportunity Tax Credit -- worth up to $2,400 per qualified new hire -- offers a federal tax credit to employers who hire ex-felons no later than one year following their convictions or prison releases.

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Workforce Investment Act

Often, ex-offenders have already begun receiving job training, developing labor skill sets, instilling coping mechanisms for stressful environments and practicing strong respect for authority during their time in prison. However, in addition to the unique skill sets that ex-prisoners may bring to their new employer, employers also benefit from mentoring and job training provisions of the Workforce Investment Act. Through the act, state and local agencies offer programs that serve as intermediaries between employers and prospective ex-offender employees. Such services offer free human resources assistance by helping instill job readiness and assessing an ex-offender's commitment and reliability before employers take a chance on a new hire. Even once an individual has been hired, some agencies continue providing training, mentoring and orientation services to the employee, and will intervene with free human resource assistance to the employer to support and address any potential problems that may surface. services may include leadership training and relocation assistance for job-seeking ex-offenders, which prevents employers from using their own resources for these matters. Other services include work experience programs that pay the wages associated with temporary placement of an ex-offender with an employer to help build desirable work habits, work history and employer references before receiving a permanent position. On-the-job training programs reimburse employers with 50 percent of training wages for recently hired ex-offenders for up to six months.

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Federal Bonding Program

The Federal Bonding Program offers fidelity bonds ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 at no cost to employers to protect against potential loss of money or property due to employee theft or dishonesty. The bonds help ensure that hires with criminal backgrounds will handle company funds and property with fidelity.

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High Morale

Employers who have hired ex-offenders share that these employees demonstrated incomparable loyalty, devotion, motivation and gratefulness toward the company that has offered them to opportunity to prove themselves. Additionally, employers shared that their ex-offender hires tended to seem less likely to take their jobs for granted than employees with no criminal history.