1 in 3 American Adults Has an Arrest or Conviction Record: Finding a Job While Being Justice-Impacted

Looking for a job in the current market is hard but it’s even harder after an arrest or incarceration. This topic touches millions of people yet it’s rarely discussed out in the open. Did you know that 1 in 3 American adults possess an arrest or conviction record? AND there are 2.4M people currently incarcerated in the United States.?

That means over 100 million Americans have a loved one with a criminal record, and if you’re one of those people, this newsletter is mostly for you. I'm going to outline five pieces of guidance you can share with them to give them a better shot at finding work upon release or if they’re currently looking and happen not to be on LinkedIn.

Off top, don’t wait until they are out to help. In a new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, researchers found that 33% of people released from federal prisons in 2010 found no employment for four years post-release and at any given time across that four years, no more than 40% of the cohort was employed.??

If you’re a family member, begin the conversation NOW. Start talking to them TODAY about education, about getting that GED if they didn’t graduate from high school. Encourage them to learn a skill while they are in prison. If the conversation begins while they’re incarcerated, it gives them hope, an action plan and most importantly–a head start on a path towards employment.

Build a LinkedIn Profile?

LinkedIn may sound like the last platform a person who is incarcerated or formerly incarcerated should be exploring but in reality, it’s likely the most helpful. I understand that it can feel a bit intimidating – or that it seems like LinkedIn only features white collar jobs. But that’s not the case. First line jobs have grown exponentially on LinkedIn in recent years. In fact, between November 2023 and January 2024, 21% of job postings on LinkedIn did not require a 4-year degree. Beyond that, LinkedIn is a great place for people looking for a fresh start or for job seekers who’ve made it past their first few post-release jobs to take their work lives to the next level. And I would say that even if I didn’t get a check from them on the first and fifteenth.?

Creating a profile builds credibility and allows you to have a home base for your job hunt. It also provides an opportunity for you to tell YOUR story using YOUR words. You get to write and own the narrative. To help the process, LinkedIn partnered with the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) to distribute thousands of LinkedIn Premium accounts to justice-impacted job seekers all across the US.?

Skills are Skills No Matter Where They’re Acquired–And Skills Get You Opportunities!?

Companies are using skills to source talent, and the more transferable skills you possess, the easier it is to find a job. Encourage them to think about the skills they already have — and how they can be used in different roles and positions when they begin their job search.?

Help your loved ones recognize that they may possess many skills even if they don’t have a lot of work experience. They may have soft skills like being a leader, being resilient, handling change well, paying attention to detail or even hard skills like being able to speak multiple languages, cutting hair, preparing food, managing a kitchen or typing. Life skills matter when they start to build out the story of what they have to offer an employer, and that includes skills they’ve learned while incarcerated.?

MAJOR PRO TIP: If a family member is incarcerated, find out if they're in a place that has learning and/or skill development courses. For instance, LinkedIn is partnering with Edovo , a learning platform that provides content to incarcerated learners across the United States. Tablets used by incarcerated learners will now provide 50+ LinkedIn Learning courses to help make the transition to the workforce easier. The library of courses are built around helping people gain skills, build resumes, practice interviews, and find companies with a commitment to giving people a second chance.?

Build a Network of Supportive Contacts

People who are justice-impacted likely will hear “no” a lot, so it’s important to start early finding folks who are more likely to say “yes.” If you’re on LinkedIn and someone you care about is justice-impacted, follow people who have been formerly incarcerated and those who help destigmatize it.

Connect with those who've shared their stories and use them to encourage your loved ones. My grandma used to say “Faith comes by hearing;” in my mind, strategy comes by example. There are professionals–on this platform–who are beating the odds and sharing their wins AND losses to help others see a path forward.??

Seek out organizations that can help and advise you along your journey: RISE , Black and Pink , A New Way of Life , and The Hope Program are just a few that are focused on building job seekers up and helping them find a place in society post-incarceration.?

Search for Jobs with Employers Who Are Committed to Hiring People Who Are Formerly incarcerated?

Everyone deserves a fair chance, but it’s especially important for folks who have experienced the criminal justice system.

There are a number of companies who’ve literally pledged to give people with a record that fair or second chance. Fair Chance or Second Chance employers are companies that will not ask about a criminal record before a conditional job offer has been made–meaning the employer will consider an applicant’s skills before their criminal record if their record will be considered at all. That’s really good news for folks who are justice impacted!

To help expedite the search, LinkedIn developed the Fair Chance job filter . It helps job seekers easily identify employers who are committed to considering applicants with a criminal record.?

The filter includes companies that have signed the Clean Slate Initiative and are true believers in the work of hiring people who are formerly incarcerated and giving people another chance at life after being justice impacted.?

The Clean Slate Initiative passes and implements laws that clear eligible records for people who have completed their sentence and remained crime-free. It’s a great thing, and I’m so proud that LinkedIn incorporated this into search.

Never Stop Learning?

Here’s the bottom line: Upskill continuously. Always be learning — no matter where you are or what you’re doing.?

Here’s a good start: LinkedIn partnered with the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) to release Job Seeking with a Criminal Record , a free and unlocked LinkedIn Learning course for people with a past conviction. The course caters to the unique and specific challenge of finding a job post-incarceration. It’s one of our best, and it’s full of tools and step-by step strategies to get you ready for the task ahead!

PRO TIP: If you have a loved one who is justice-impacted, and you want to help them–TAKE THIS COURSE, TOO! Taking this course as an ally, gives you incredible insight into the journey ahead for them–the obstacles and the opportunities. It will make you a strong source of information and support if you both take it.?

If you or someone in your family has been arrested or incarcerated — or are currently incarcerated — please know that this chapter is not the end of your story. It’s a new beginning, ripe with possibilities! It’s never too late to start building an employment strategy to use your unique skills and talents and regain agency over your life and ability to work.?

This is the point in the newsletter when I usually say something pithy or quote Jay Z or Langston Hughes. Instead I’m going to paraphrase Dr. Genevieve Rimer , Director of Inclusive Hiring at CEO and fair chance hiring advocate, “People with a past conviction are capable of executive level positions and have tons of transferable skills from our lives that qualify us as leaders.”?

I believe the doctor is right! Helping people who’ve been justice impacted get viable, sustainable work is a win for everyone–employers, jobseekers and our communities in general. Let’s get EVERYONE to work!

Editor’s note: Any persons who are incarcerated or formerly incarcerated? who are looking for work, Connect with ME! I’ll help when I can.