Get to Know Second Chance Hiring

What is the strong—yet thoughtful and responsible—economic argument for second chance hiring? And how can we more fully live out our nation’s ideals of fairness, forgiveness, and opportunity?

Every year, more than a million people pass through the U.S. prison system, yet many find themselves shut out of the job market upon release. Second Chance Hiring: An Economic and Ethical Necessity confronts this challenge head-on. Blending insights from policy, economics, and culture, the book demonstrates why employing formerly incarcerated individuals is both a sound business strategy and a moral imperative—one that supports their reintegration into the workforce and into society.

What sets this book apart is its candid engagement with the concerns employers often voice, including risks related to recidivism and mental health. Rather than dismiss these worries, it addresses them directly while affirming the dignity of returning citizens and the transformative power of rehabilitation. Drawing on proven re-entry models from around the globe, the book highlights programs that consistently deliver safe, positive outcomes. It also offers practical guidance to employers interested in beginning or expanding second chance hiring efforts, showing where and how to start.