Fair Chance Hiring

We successfully advocated for Gainesville to adopt a Fair Chance Hiring Law

We have been advocating since our 2020-21 fellowship class, Torchlighters Re-entry Support, for local fair chance hiring policies.

In December 2022, Gainesville made history as the first city in Florida to pass a Fair Chance Hiring law.

Learn about the importance of this ordinance from the fellow, Tequila McKnight, who spearheaded this initiative.

A woman posing with a mask on at a desk typing.

What is Fair Chance Hiring?

Fair chance hiring is a process that gives folks with records a fair shot at employment. It requires employers to consider job applicants on an individual basis by:

  1. Waiting to ask about criminal records until later in the process, and

  2. Considering any criminal records in context.

See our presentation to learn more about how Gainesville’s Fair Chance Hiring ordinance works.

Why Fair Chance Hiring Matters

Researchers estimate that by age 23 nearly 1 in 3 Americans will have been arrested. For context, in May 2024, that would be over 112 million Americans! Even having a minor criminal record can create lifelong barriers that stand in the way of successful re-entry such as finding a job.

Having a job is one of the most important factors that determines whether someone is likely to go back to jail. Many people with records also owe fines and fees, and if they can’t pay, they can be reincarcerated. They are too poor to be free.

Yet despite being motivated and qualified, they face barrier after barrier to finding work. Pervasive questions about criminal records on job applications or in interviews prevent them from being seen as they are today. As a result, formerly incarcerated people are unemployed at a rate of over 27% on a national level — higher than the unemployment rate during the Great Depression. 

Reducing employment barriers benefits everyone.

A graphic with yellow background, an image of people smiling at work with the words "For employers, a bigger talent pool and lower turnover".
A graphic with a blue background, image of hands coming together, and the words "For people with records, increased employment and economic stability".
A graphic with a dark pink background, an image of multiple people's hands coming together, and the words "For the community, decreased incarceration and public spending".

Companies that are open to hiring people with records can improve their bottom line by tapping into a large pool of talented workers. Research has also shown that turnover among people with records is lower and they are more motivated to perform. 

People with employment are far less likely to be reincarcerated. On a local level, that means that increased employment results in increased public safety and more taxes coming in. On a larger scale, this means huge savings for taxpayers by keeping more people out of the criminal justice system. One study estimated that increasing employment for people released from Florida state prisons by 50% would save $86 million annually in incarceration costs.

These are just some of the reasons why 37 states and 150 cities have adopted some form of fair chance hiring.