Why Should Employers Hire Ex-Offenders?

All across the country, stories are told about how former welfare recipients have surpassed initial expectations and are excelling as able, motivated workers. These new employees are posting the same or higher retention rates as other employees and are moving from lives of dependence to independence. Now there is a new group of workers who also merit your serious consideration as viable employees: individuals with criminal histories, or ex-offenders.

Hiring Ex-Offenders simply makes good business sense . The Federal and State governments have allocated millions of dollars to assist companies who hire Ex-Offenders. These government programs offer, subsidized vocational training, tax credits, government financed training programs for corporate departments responsible for integrating Ex-Offenders into corporate life.

As an example, the links below offer a brief glimpse into the support offered by Federal, State, and local governments:

1.  National H.I.R.E. Network

serves as a natioinal clearing house for informatiion and provides leadership on key public policy initiatives related to the employment of people with criminal backgrounds.

2.  Work Opportunity Tax Credits  ---  Additional Information (Gov.)
How to receive up to $2400 in credits per qualified employee

3.  Federal Bonding Program
Free bond insurance for qualified, but "at-risk," job applicants

4.  How To Obtain An Employment and Training Administration Grant

5.  State Tax Credits
Several states offer tax credits for employers who hire job applicants with criminal histories. Click the link above for more information.

Many of these Ex-Offenders , men and women, have  come from extreme poverty,  broken homes, violent childhoods, and life environments where hope was non-existent.   They have now paid their debt to society, and have dedicated themselves to transforming their lives and establishing a new path to success.  That path starts with a JOB. This is an area where you can, not only help society, but add to the financial success of your company.

 About 25 percent of the nation’s adult population have a criminal record on file with state or federal governments. It may surprise you however, that most ex-offenders have convictions for nonviolent crimes, like drug offenses. In fact, 71 percent of state prisoners were convicted of nonviolent offenses.

The challenge is to take advantage of the opportunities that hiring qualified ex-offenders provides. Three fourths of ex-offenders were working at least part time before being incarcerated and many acquired new training skills while in prison. Many ex-offenders, particularly those referred by service providers and supervision agencies that specialize in vocational training and employment placements for ex-offenders, offer the skills and motivation to contribute to your business’ success.

The information contained below is designed to answer frequently asked questions to help you make smart hiring decisions when it comes to employing people with conviction records.

Advantages to hiring an ex-offender

Hiring individuals with criminal records provides your business with incentives that you should be aware of, including:

Financial Incentives: Work Opportunity Tax and Welfare to Work Tax Credits are available to private employers to hire targeted groups of workers, including ex-offenders and long-term welfare recipients. The maximum credit available is $2,400 per new worker for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. Under the Welfare to Work Tax Credit, an employer can claim up to 35 percent of an employer’s first year wages. In addition, you may be eligible to receive Workforce Investment Act (WIA) assistance, including on-the-job training and welfare to work wage subsidies, if you are willing to train and provide work experience to ex-offenders. (see resource section)

Support from Service Providers and Supervision Agencies:

Ex-offender employment agencies help businesses hire with confidence by acting as intermediaries between the employer and the job applicant. While these programs (and other public-or private-sector social service organizations that typically train and support people moving into the workforce) vary in the package of services they offer, they typically provide job readiness and orientation, job assessment and development, pre-employment education and/or training, and post-placement services. These organizations provide no-cost human resources assistance to businesses, evaluating the skills, work history and reliability of potential employees, as well as information related to an applicant’s criminal past. After a placement is made, many employment agencies provide continuing support to both the ex-offender and the employer and will intervene if problems arise.

Parole officers may also serve as an external monitor/support system for ex-offenders. By supervising individuals and monitoring their conditions of release (i.e. working, staying off drugs, etc.) parole officers can act as another resource for employers.

TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER HOPE TO A PERSON WITHOUT A FUTURE!

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