Second Chance Employment for Felons in San Antonio

Second Chance Employment for Felons in San Antonio

Finding a job after being incarcerated can be extremely challenging. Many employers are hesitant to hire someone with a criminal record, making it difficult for former inmates to re-enter society and build a stable life. However, San Antonio has emerged as a leader in the growing “second chance hiring” movement, which aims to connect felons with meaningful employment opportunities after their release.

Second chance hiring recognizes that most people who have been incarcerated truly want to turn their lives around. However, the stigma of a criminal record often prevents them from getting a fair chance to do so. According to the non-profit Prison Policy Initiative, formerly incarcerated individuals are unemployed at a rate of over 27% – higher than the total U.S. unemployment rate during any historical period, including the Great Depression.

By overlooking someone’s background and giving them a chance to work, employers can tap into a dedicated, motivated workforce. And by earning a steady income, former inmates are better equipped to re-integrate into society in a positive way.

The Benefits of Second Chance Hiring in San Antonio

Second chance hiring has many upsides for both employers and workers here in San Antonio:

• It addresses a major social issue. Texas has one of the largest prison populations in the U.S. Bexar County accounts for about 25% of the people released from state jails and prisons. Providing employment helps reduce recidivism rates.
• It expands the local labor pool. With so many former inmates in need of work, second chance hiring opens up a large, untapped talent pool for San Antonio companies.
• It’s good for the economy. Putting more people to work generates more economic activity and tax revenue for San Antonio.
• It’s beneficial for companies. Workers hired through second chance programs tend to be very loyal. Turnover rates are lower than average.
• It’s helpful for workers. Steady employment is critical for former inmates to be able to afford housing, transportation, healthcare and other necessities.
• It reduces public assistance spending. Employed people rely less on government welfare programs.

The potential benefits for San Antonio make second chance hiring a worthwhile investment for both businesses and the community.

Second Chance Hiring Laws and Legal Protections

Certain laws exist, both federally and within Texas, to encourage employers to consider job applicants with criminal histories:

• The federal EEOC Enforcement Guidance recommends that employers not ask about criminal records on job applications. This allows qualified applicants to at least get an interview before being questioned about their background.
• The federal Fair Chance Act prohibits federal agencies and federal contractors from requesting criminal history information until after making a conditional job offer. Some states have passed similar “ban the box” laws.
• In Texas, the Employee Misclassification Act prohibits employers from automatically excluding job applicants with criminal histories, unless the conviction directly relates to the job duties.

While these laws encourage giving people with records a fair chance, private employers in Texas are still allowed to ultimately deny someone employment due to their criminal history, if they determine the applicant poses an unreasonable risk.

Major Second Chance Hiring Initiatives in San Antonio

Several impactful programs have launched in San Antonio to connect former inmates with jobs:

Ready to Work Initiative

The Ready to Work initiative began in 2015 through a partnership between the City of San Antonio, Bexar County Reentry Services, and local organizations. It provides job readiness training, vocational skills certifications, and job placement assistance to people with criminal backgrounds. Over 1,300 clients have completed job training and more than 800 have gained employment through the program so far.

Second Chance Job Fair

The annual Second Chance Job Fair brings together dozens of potential employers and hundreds of job seekers with criminal records. During the multi-day event at the Freeman Coliseum, attendees can receive interview coaching and apply for jobs on the spot. The fair typically results in over 100 on-the-spot job offers.

Second Chance Pledge

As part of the San Antonio Manufacturing Partnership, over 40 local manufacturers have signed the Second Chance Pledge developed by the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center. Signees vow to consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal history.

Project Quest

Funded by the City of San Antonio and area employers, Project Quest provides job training and placement services. The program works with the Bexar County Community Supervision and Corrections Department to specifically help former inmates gain employment.

Spotlight on Some Second Chance-Friendly Employers

Many San Antonio companies actively hire second chance workers, including:

H-E-B

The beloved Texas grocery chain runs an intensive 4-week workforce training program for formerly incarcerated individuals. After completing the program, participants are guaranteed a job interview. H-E-B also partners with Bexar County on the Ready to Work initiative.

Rackspace

Known as the #1 cloud services provider, Rackspace was one of the first major corporations to embrace second chance hiring in San Antonio. Rackspace has stated that employees hired through re-entry programs are some of their most loyal and hard-working team members.

Zachry Construction

This national construction firm removes the criminal history question from job applications to give candidates a fair shot. Zachry is also a major supporter of Project Quest’s training programs for former inmates.

Toyota

Toyota’s large production facility in San Antonio has hired dozens of second chance workers to fill open manufacturing roles. The company has said these hires tend to be very dedicated long-term employees.

Perspectives on Second Chance Hiring in San Antonio

Here are some first-hand perspectives on second chance hiring in San Antonio from local employers, community leaders and former inmates:

“We don’t even think about their past mistakes. We think about how motivated they are now to change the trajectory of their lives.” – H-E-B VP of Diversity & Inclusion

“Employers are missing out on incredibly talented people. We firmly believe in second chances.” – Rackspace Chief People Officer

“Everyone deserves an opportunity to work hard and provide for themselves and their families.” – San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg

“The Second Chance Job Fair was life changing. I interviewed with three companies and got offered a job that same day.” – Job fair attendee

“Project Quest gave me the chance to get forklift certified. After years of struggling, I’m finally employed and providing for my kids.” – Project Quest graduate

The Outlook for Continued Growth

Thanks to the efforts of local government, businesses, and non-profits, San Antonio has made real progress on second chance hiring. But there is still ample opportunity for expansion. Some ideas that have been proposed for the future include:

• Launching targeted job training programs in high-demand fields like healthcare and IT.
• Creating permanent year-round second chance employment centers.
• Increasing awareness through social media campaigns and public service announcements.
• Expanding transportation assistance to help workers get to job sites.
• Offering financial incentives to employers for hiring second chance workers.
• Setting up additional transitional housing to support recently employed ex-offenders.

Second chance hiring has already benefited hundreds of San Antonio residents and employers. But thousands more stand to gain from expanding these impactful programs. For a city seeking both economic and social progress, second chance employment is a worthwhile investment – one that can help build a just, prosperous and inclusive future for all of San Antonio’s residents.