Invisibilized, Labeled, and Identified: Facilitating Fair Chance Employment

Despite important shifts in diversity initiatives in organizations, criminal history has largely not been considered a facet of diversity. Progressive sentiments have since emerged in favor of fair and equitable employment for justice-involved persons. However, willingness to hire has not been met with a significant change in actual hiring behaviors and employment with a criminal history continues to be a difficult endeavor. We consider fair-chance employment to be a critical component to opening employment prospects and shaping access to gainful employment for justice-involved individuals. We assert that a deepened understanding of the various facets, experiences, and individual perspectives embedded in this identity can ultimately enable employers to equip their respective organizations for fair consideration of job candidates, fair-chance hiring, and more equitable and inclusive work environments.