Fair Chance to Advance

Systemic barriers prevent individuals impacted by the carceral system from accessing career pathways that lead to high-wage, high-growth employment sectors. These barriers not only hinder economic advancement for people who are currently or formerly incarcerated but also limit states’ ability to meet rapidly changing labor market demands.

The Center for Justice & Economic Advancement at Jobs for the Future (JFF) is developing the Fair Chance to Advance initiative to build the infrastructure and provide technical assistance and resources to transform states’ education, workforce, and employment systems. This initiative will bring together leaders from across the fair chance ecosystem for coordinated action, including people who have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system, state leaders and policymakers, departments of corrections, postsecondary institutions, employers, workforce development agencies and boards, to redesign career pathways, remove systemic barriers, and normalize fair chance employment.

The initiative began in June 2024 with a year-long planning phase to inform the development of a multi-year initiative accelerating impact in leading-edge states, facilitating regional collaboration, and building national momentum. The goals of the initiative are to: 

• Increase access to high-quality education and training programs for students who are incarcerated 

• Partner with employers to adopt and implement fair chance hiring practices  

• Empower policymakers to “Normalize Opportunity” and remove barriers to employment and advancement for people with records 

• Create learn-to-work ecosystems that enable long-term economic advancement for individuals with records of arrest, conviction, or incarceration 

• Ensure that every person has a fair chance to advance