By: Mitch Coppes, Government Relations Senior Specialist, Goodwill Industries International
The American workforce is experiencing a period of unprecedented disruption where many employers struggle to find qualified workers to fill over 11 million job openings. But for many jobseekers with a criminal background, particularly those reentering the workforce after incarceration, finding employment can be a daunting hurdle to overcome. President Joe Biden recently issued a proclamation marking April as Second Chance Month, a time to raise awareness of the challenges facing people that have been involved in the criminal justice system and to spotlight the important work being done by community-based organizations like Goodwill® to empower these individuals to achieve career and life success.
Biden noted that over 640,000 individuals are released from state and federal prisons every year and more than 70 million Americans have a criminal record. Indeed, most incarcerated people will return to their communities at some point, and many will confront barriers to employment, education, housing, and other basic needs. Without opportunities for employment and holistic supports, people involved in the justice system are also at greater risk to reoffend.
“My Administration recognizes that making the criminal and juvenile justice systems more equitable, just, and effective requires a holistic approach.” said Biden. “It requires quality job training and educational opportunities during incarceration. It requires providing formerly incarcerated individuals with opportunities to enter the workforce, reunite with their families, find stable and safe homes, and access health care.”
Goodwill leads the way in creating employment opportunities for justice-involved people. In 2020, local Goodwill organizations served more than 47,000 individuals with a criminal background, including those reintegrating back into society. Goodwill’s evidence-based reentry services offer justice-involved people opportunities to engage in learning, skills development, work experience, and holistic reintegration services.
Goodwill also seeks to advance policy solutions that will help people involved in the justice system to have a second chance for success and a fair chance for employment. By investing in community-based reentry programs, providing greater access to education and training opportunities during and after incarceration, promoting fair-chance hiring practices, removing barriers to employment and occupational licensing, and addressing the collateral consequences of conviction, justice-involved individuals can change their lives through the power of work.
