📖 OpenPath Blog
Guides, legal updates, and real strategies for job seekers with criminal records.
Reentry Employment Programs: How Probation Officers Can Help Clients Find Work
A practical guide for probation and parole officers on how to connect clients with employment resources, track job search progress, and use OpenPath's PO portal to streamline reentry employment support.
WOTC Tax Credits: Why Employers Should Hire People with Records
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) gives employers up to $9,600 per hire for bringing on people with qualifying criminal records. Here's how it works and why more employers are using it.
Fair Chance Employers Who Hire People with Criminal Records
A guide to how fair chance employers work, what makes them different from standard employers, and how to find and approach companies that have committed to considering applicants with criminal records.
No Background Check Jobs in 2026: Certifications and Careers
A practical 2026 guide to jobs and career paths that don't require background checks — including certifications you can earn regardless of criminal history, and how to access them through OpenPath's free course directory.
Jobs for Sex Offenders: A Complete Guide to Finding Employment
A comprehensive guide to finding employment as a registered sex offender — which industries hire, what rights you have, and how OpenPath connects you with employers who have explicit policies on sex offense acceptance.
How Fair-Chance Employers Use the WOTC Tax Credit
Employers can earn up to $9,600 per hire when they employ people with qualifying criminal records. Here's how the Work Opportunity Tax Credit works.
Top 5 Free Certifications That Ignore Criminal Records
Five certifications you can earn for free or near-free that don't require background checks and lead directly to employment with fair-chance employers.
Ban-the-Box Laws by State: A 2024 Guide for Job Seekers
State-by-state breakdown of ban-the-box legislation and how it protects job seekers with criminal records during the hiring process.
How to Find Jobs That Accept Felony Records in 2024
A practical guide to identifying fair-chance employers, using ban-the-box laws to your advantage, and landing interviews with a criminal record.
How Probation Officers Can Help Clients Find Employment
Probation officers are underutilized employment allies. Here's how POs can leverage resources, relationships, and tools to connect their clients with meaningful work—and why it matters.
Certifications You Can Earn With No Background Check Required
Build real, market-value credentials without worrying about background checks. These certifications are accessible to people with criminal records and are valued by employers.
First Step Act: What It Means for Education and Employment Behind Bars
The First Step Act of 2018 made significant changes to federal sentencing and prison programming. Here's what it means for education, vocational training, and reentry preparation.
SORNA Explained: What Sex Offender Registration Means for Your Employment
The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act affects where you can work and live. Here's a plain-language breakdown of what SORNA requires and how it affects your job search.
Fair Chance Employers: Companies That Hire Sex Offenders
Some employers go beyond general 'fair chance' policies and explicitly consider applicants regardless of offense type. Here's what to look for and where to find them.
How to Write a Resume With a Criminal Record (With Examples)
A criminal record doesn't have to derail your resume. Use these strategies to present your experience honestly and compellingly—with real examples and templates.
What Is Ban-the-Box? Your Rights as a Job Seeker With a Criminal Record
Ban-the-box laws have changed the hiring landscape in over 35 states. Here's what they mean for job seekers with criminal records and how to use them to your advantage.
WOTC Tax Credits Explained: Why Employers Should Hire People With Records
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit gives employers up to $9,600 per hire for bringing on qualified workers—including people with felony convictions. Here's exactly how it works.
Best Jobs for People on the Sex Offender Registry
Finding employment while on the sex offender registry is challenging but far from impossible. These industries and roles offer real pathways to stable work.
Can Sex Offenders Get a CDL License? State-by-State Guide
Getting a CDL with a sex offense on your record is complicated—rules vary by state and offense type. Here's exactly what you need to know before you apply.