April 15, 2026
Millions of capable workers are locked out of learning and employment opportunities by policies limiting options for people with records of arrest, conviction, or incarceration. In this policy agenda, Jobs for the Future outlines bipartisan solutions that remove those barriers and strengthen the workforce, expand opportunity, and drive economic growth.
Nearly one in three Americans has a record of arrest, conviction, or incarceration. And their options for economic mobility are limited because more than 40,000 federal, state, and local policies make it hard for them to get an education, earn credentials, secure housing, or qualify for good jobs—often long after they’ve served their sentences.
These barriers don’t improve public safety. They shrink the labor pool, limit economic advancement, and drain $372.3 billion in lost wages from the U.S. economy each year. Our policy agenda is designed to change that.
State and federal policymakers
Workforce and education agency leaders
Governor’s offices and legislative staff
Funders and systems-change partners
Employers and industry intermediaries
Organizations supporting workers and learners
This policy agenda provides clear, actionable recommendations for state and federal policymakers to:
Expand access to postsecondary education, apprenticeships, and job training tied to quality jobs for people who are incarcerated and those returning to their communities. Invest in and remove barriers to prison-based education and training programs, increase opportunities for people to earn market-rate wages in prison, and bolster incentives for incarcerated individuals to participate in employment and training programs through mechanisms like credits for time off sentences.
Level the playing field for workers with records by automating record sealing, enacting laws establishing fair chance hiring protections, and removing restrictions that prevent workers with records from securing professional licenses or starting businesses.
Strengthen public investments in reentry services and workforce supports, and eliminate barriers that restrict access to housing, nutrition assistance, and other benefits for individuals with records of arrest, conviction, or incarceration.
Invest in data collection technologies and require public reporting of data to ensure the accountability of programs designed to support people with records in the workforce. Tie funding to performance metrics that demonstrate successful records of helping people build in-demand skills and secure quality jobs. Encourage coordination among interconnected education, workforce, and criminal justice systems.
Read the full policy agenda to explore JFF’s recommendations for shaping a policy framework that promotes fair chance hiring and expands economic opportunity for people with records.
Across the country, policymakers are demonstrating that smart policy delivers real results:
Market-rate wages and employer partnerships for incarcerated workers
Remote work and digital skills training inside correctional facilities
Education-based sentence reductions that save taxpayer dollars and improve outcomes
Transform Policy Into Action
Federal and state leaders who partner with Jobs for the Future receive personalized, expert guidance. We provide technical assistance and advice in the following areas:
Expand access to postsecondary education and apprenticeships for those incarcerated and returning to their communities.
Level the playing field for workers with records by automating record sealing and enacting fair chance hiring protections.
Strengthen public investments in reentry services and eliminate barriers to housing and nutrition assistance.
Invest in data collection and public reporting to ensure the accountability of programs supporting people with records.
A national initiative led by JFF’s Center for Justice & Economic Advancement to transform state systems so people with histories of incarceration can access education and careers and achieve economic mobility.
Driving policy change so that people with records can work in quality jobs
At Jobs for the Future (JFF), we believe that fair chance hiring is not just a moral imperative but also a strategic advantage for businesses. Unlocking the potential of skilled workers with records of arrest, conviction, or incarceration gives your company a competitive edge.
A national initiative led by JFF’s Center for Justice & Economic Advancement to transform state systems so people with histories of incarceration can access education and careers and achieve economic mobility.
Driving policy change so that people with records can work in quality jobs
At Jobs for the Future (JFF), we believe that fair chance hiring is not just a moral imperative but also a strategic advantage for businesses. Unlocking the potential of skilled workers with records of arrest, conviction, or incarceration gives your company a competitive edge.