In the United States, second-chance hiring or fair-chance hiring is when an
employer
Employment is a relationship between two parties regulating the provision of paid labour services. Usually based on a contract, one party, the employer, which might be a corporation, a not-for-profit organization, a co-operative, or any ot ...
does not automatically disqualify all prospective
job applicants
Job hunting, job seeking, or job searching is the act of looking for employment, due to unemployment, underemployment, discontent with a current position, or a desire for a better position. The immediate goal of job seeking is usually to obtain ...
who have prior involvement in the
criminal justice system
Criminal justice is the delivery of justice to those who have been accused of committing crimes. The criminal justice system is a series of government agencies and institutions. Goals include the rehabilitation of offenders, preventing other ...
.
Instead, the
hiring process includes an evaluation of the individual.
For example, if a person has a past conviction related to
driving
Driving is the controlled operation and movement of a land vehicle, including cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses. A driver's permission to drive on public highways is granted based on a set of conditions being met, and drivers are required to ...
, but the job involves no driving, then the conviction may not be relevant.
Similarly, since most
recidivism
Recidivism (; from 'recurring', derived from 'again' and 'to fall') is the act of a person repeating an undesirable behavior after they have experienced negative consequences of that behavior, or have been trained to Extinction (psycholo ...
happens within the first three years, then old convictions may not be relevant.
It can be part of a
diversity, equity, and inclusion
In the United States, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are organizational frameworks that seek to promote the fair treatment and full participation of all people, particularly groups who have historically been underrepresented or subject ...
program.
See also
*
Ban the Box
Ban the Box is an American campaign by advocates for ex-offenders aimed at removing the check box that asking applicants about their potential criminal record from hiring applications. Its purpose is to enable ex-offenders to display their quali ...
*
Second Chance Month
Second Chance Month, observed in the United States during April since 2017, is a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the collateral consequences of the records that follow an arrest or conviction, and unlocking second chances — opportuniti ...
*
Second Chance Act (2007) – US law
References
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Employment
Criminal justice reform