Koch Network Calls for More Second-Chance Hiring

More than 650,000 individuals are released from prison every year, but studies show 77 percent of people released from prison are arrested again within five years. A good job significantly decreases the chance someone will re-offend, but more than 15,000 laws and regulations limit job opportunities for people with criminal records.

Following the recent passage of the monumental First Step Act, which improves rehabilitation and re-entry opportunities for thousands of incarcerated men and women, Charles Koch, CEO of Koch Industries, Inc., is urging business leaders to unite and take the next step by ending practices that screen out otherwise qualified job applicants because of a criminal record.

As part of a new national campaign called Getting Talent Back to Work, The Koch Network is partnering with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) to release a new toolkit that can help more business leaders adopt best practices for giving more employment opportunities to qualified job applicants with criminal backgrounds. With the toolkit as a resource, businesses can change lives and be a major force for good in their communities, one second-chance hire at a time. Learn more about the challenge and what you can do to help.