Because one in three Americans have a criminal record, employers are expanding their search for hires to include people with criminal histories, especially if that applicant is the best person for the job.
A Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Charles Koch Institute (CKI) study found that candidates with criminal histories with good references, a positive performance record, skills, and a certificate of rehabilitation will likely be considered. Six states, including Arizona, California, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey and New York—offer rehabilitation certificates or similar.
More and more HR professionals have hired people who have committed misdemeanors or had DUIs. But less hire people convicted of violent or theft felonies.
According to the study, “a criminal record should never be viewed as an automatic disqualification for employment” and
“employers must think differently about both jobs and the people who can fill them.”
Blanket bans on hiring felons is unlawful, but hiring methods find ways around laws with background checks and heavy screening. The study found that only one-third of HR professionals said their company has a formal policy about hiring someone with a criminal record. Also, while companies will say they are willing to hire people with criminal records, only five percent of managers actively recruit people with criminal records because of concern about the employer’s legal liability if something should happen.
For companies that have hired people with criminal records, the majority found that the value new employees with criminal records bring to the organization is as high as or higher than that of workers without records.
SHRM aims to help organizations have conversations about hiring people with criminal records and help the company determine what choices are best for the organization.
