Second Chance Initiative by Walmart

Walmart takes on prison reform with its Second Chance’s initiative, which ensures greater access to employment for individuals exiting the criminal justice system.

Walmart represents a growing number of companies hiring former inmates and have joined more than 100 cities and 19 states in passing “ban the box” legislation to prohibit employers from requiring job applicants to check a box indicating whether they have a criminal record. Checking that box often leads to automatic exclusion from consideration without the opportunity to explain the nature of the crime. Companies that hire former inmates say those employees are often model workers who are eager to prove themselves.