Female Former Offenders

Below are resources developed by Women Work! to address the issue of economic security for female former offenders. Following these are additional resources with links to learn more.

	Female Former Offenders: Overcoming Barriers to Employment A sneak-peek at the feature story from the Female Former Offenders issue of Women Work!'s quarterly magazine, We Work!. Click here to read the article, and check back in early April for the magazine's full release.
	Life After Prison From Women Work!'s tip sheet series, this tip sheet focuses on various solutions to help female former offenders achieve economic security. Click here to view the tip sheet.
	Female Former Offenders Fact Sheet From Women Work!'s issue briefs series, this fact sheet provides information about the challenges to economic security faced by female former offenders. Click here to view the fact sheet.

Contact A.J. Barks with any questions regarding these resources.

Additional Resources

Employment Resources

Women's Prison Association (WPA)

The WPA's Reentry Services provide prison, jail, and community-based assistance for women. Their services include pre-release planning, education and training, case management and targeted assistance.

Visit them online at www.wpaonline.org or call 646-336-6100

National HIRE Network

The National HIRE Network provides a list of state-specific resources, information and assistance for people with criminal records who are seeking employment.

Visit them online at www.hirenetwork.org

Federal Bureau of Prisons

The Federal Bureau of Prisons' website has a section with a list of employment resources for ex-offenders, along with a list of resources and information for employers of ex-offenders.

Visit them online at www.bop.gov Click on Inmate Matters at the top of the screen, and then on Employing Ex-Offenders on the left-hand side of the screen.

The Next Step

The Next Step provides job placement services across the country.

Visit them online at www.thenextstep99.com or call 1-800-498-2207.

Legal Resources

Equal Opportunities Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

The EEOC is a good place to find more information on worker discrimination, including how to file a claim of suspected discrimination.

Visit them online at www.eeoc.gov.

Legal Action Center

The Legal Action Center works to help people who are facing employment discrimination based on their criminal records. They also provide information on the current legal rights of workers with criminal records.

Visit them online at www.lac.org (click on Legal Services on the left-hand side and then select National Criminal Justice Legal Services) or call 1-800-223-4044.

National Employment Law Project

The National Employment Law Project (NELP) provides resources and information on criminal background check laws, privacy rights and other legal rights of workers with criminal records.

Visit them online at www.nelp.org. Click on Criminal Records and Employment under the Issues tab at the top of the page.

National Institute of Corrections

The National Institute of Corrections (NCIC) provides research and publications on offender reentry and employment.

Visit them online at www.nicic.org. Click on the Projects tab at the top of the page and then select from the options on the left hand side.

Reentry Net/NY

Reentry Net/NY is a support network and information clearinghouse on prison and jail reentry. They are based primarily in New York , but they have many helpful resources, including sample letters educating employers about the employment rights of people with criminal records, as well as a listing of legal referrals and resources.

Visit them online at www.reentry.net/ny.