Freedom to Achieve: Pathways and Practices for Economic Advancement after Incarceration

Hiring people who have served prison sentences has never been a priority in the United States. For men and women who were once incarcerated, finding any job is difficult; finding a sustainable, family-supporting job is nearly impossible. Today the country is at a critical crossroads on this issue, and it's time for change. As the nation works in earnest toward an equitable economic recovery and focuses on preparing people for the jobs of the post-pandemic world, action must be taken to ensure the reentry population is positioned for employment. This report argues that the nation must match the breadth and scale of the investments that support U.S. systems of incarceration by investing in a comprehensive and scalable approach to workforce development that connects returning citizens with jobs and equips them for long-term careers. [This report was supported by the Justice and Mobility Fund.]