Finding a job with a felony record: Who is hiring in Charlotte?
For those with a criminal record, finding stable work can be a challenge.
According to a 2018 report from the Prison Policy Institute, formerly incarcerated people are unemployed at a rate of 27%. The analysis is based on the most recent data collected by the government on people who have been to prison.
Hope Marshall, the program manager for the Mecklenburg County Criminal Justice Services Re-Entry Services Program, said many people with criminal records are denied employment due to their background checks.
“Employers may feel there are liability issues for violent, drug and sexual offenders and do not want to hire them or, hire them before a background check is complete only to let them go later,” Marshall said in an email to The Charlotte Observer.
According to Marshall, other reasons it might be difficult for those with criminal records to find a job include:
Lack of education, skills, or certifications needed for desired employment.
Unexplained gaps in employment history.
Inability to access online resources to complete job applications.
Lack of childcare or transportation.
Inability to obtain Social Security cards or other forms of identification needed for job applications.
Though the COVID-19 pandemic left a record number of Americans jobless, many employers started hiring people with criminal records, Marshall said, and others introduced second-chance employment programs for the justice-involved.
Those who do find jobs earn an average of $269 per week — 53% of the median U.S. worker’s wage — during the first year of their release, Prison Policy Institute says.
If you or someone you know is having trouble reentering society, there are places in Charlotte that can help formerly incarcerated people get back into the workforce.
Center for Community Transitions
For more than 40 years, families in the Charlotte area impacted by incarceration have benefited from re-entry services provided by the Center for Community Transitions (CCT).
One program CCT offers programs is called Lifeworks, an initiative that provides practical training and employment assistance. Another is Families Doing Time, which offers support groups and professional training for families of incarcerated individuals.
You can visit the center at 5825 Old Concord Rd., or contact them online at centerforcommunitytransitions.org. The organization can also be reached by phone at (704) 494-0001.
Mecklenburg County Re-Entry Services
Mecklenburg County Re-Entry Services provides employment coaching, placement and case management services for recently incarcerated individuals.
Participation in the program is voluntary, and anyone returning to the county from incarceration within one year of release from a state correctional facility is eligible. Services can begin prior to release or after by completing a referral form found on the Mecklenburg County Re-Entry Services website or calling 980-314-5043.
NextGen by NCWorks
NextGen is a free program for young adults ages 16-25 to achieve educational and employment goals.
The organization provides case management assistance for recently incarcerated individuals, as well as career planning, training, employment coaching and job placement services.
You can call 704-566-2879 or email NextGen at inspireyouthrws@gmail.com to schedule an appointment. There are two Charlotte locations, at 8601 McAlpine Park Dr., and 7140 Forest Point Blvd.
Employers that hire the justice-involved
Some companies hire the formerly incarcerated, but each one has different policies. Here is a list of employers where justice-involved people have been hired, according to Help for Felons, an organization devoted to helping those who have been incarcerated return to the workforce:
Starbucks: Each felony is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Factors considered include the type of felony you were convicted of and how long ago the conviction occurred.
Lowe’s: When reviewing applications, the company considers the type of felony conviction, length of time since your conviction and any job-related skills applicants possess.
UPS: The company hires some applicants for some entry-level positions, including package handlers, driver helpers and seasonal positions.
Walgreens: Applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Amazon: The company does not have a blanket policy against hiring formerly incarcerated people. Amazon says that applicants can often be hired for positions in warehouses.
Best Buy: Factors that play a role in the hiring process include the specific nature of your felony, the time that has passed since being released from prison and how a criminal record is explained to the hiring manager.
IHOP: Many applicants with criminal records have reported getting a job on the spot after an interview, especially at locations that are short-staffed.
Applebee’s: The restaurant chain has been known to hire justice-involved applicants for hostess, cashier, server and cook positions.
