There is one question that determines whether you get hired. Not the application. Not the background check. Not what the charge was or how long you were inside.
The question is this: why you, over the thirty other people I could hire who don't have a criminal record?
If you walk in without a ready answer, you will not get the job. The interviewer can see the pause the moment you don't have something prepared, and once they see it, the room shifts against you. What you need is an answer practiced enough to say with confidence and humility at the same time.
The answer that works is this:
Everybody deserves a second chance. Somebody is going to give me one. And they are going to get the best employee they ever had, because I am never, ever going to do something that sends me back to prison.
Say it clean. Say it without flinching. It makes no excuses, asks for no sympathy, and tells the employer the one thing they actually need to know: you have more reason to perform than anyone else in that stack.
Then live it. The light is on you from the first day. Use it. Work twice as hard as the person next to you. Show up earlier, stay later, and make that scrutiny your shining light, not a burden. The person standing next to you does not have anyone watching them that closely. You do. That is an advantage if you decide to treat it like one.
What the Law in Arkansas Says About Your Record
Arkansas has no statewide ban the box law for private employers and no statewide fair chance hiring mandate. A private company in Arkansas can ask about your criminal history on the initial job application, screen you out before you have spoken a word, and decline without detailed explanation. You are in the same position as someone applying in eleven other states with no state-level protection.
What does offer some footing: federal law applies everywhere. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, any employer using a consumer reporting agency to run a background check must get your written consent first and provide notice before taking adverse action. The EEOC provides guidance discouraging blanket criminal record bans that produce racially disparate outcomes, which applies to larger employers. Federal contractors must delay criminal history inquiries until after a conditional offer under the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act.
Little Rock has a local ordinance that applies to city contractors and public employees, delaying criminal history inquiries in that sector. For state agency employment, Arkansas law requires that background checks on applicants are connected to job-relatedness. But neither of these protections reaches most private employment.
One positive development on the licensing side: Arkansas reduced the lookback period on criminal history for occupational licensing applications from seven years to three in 2024. That is a meaningful change for anyone who is more than three years out from their conviction and pursuing a licensed trade.
Arkansas's economy runs heavily on food processing, manufacturing, logistics, retail, agriculture, and construction. Those sectors have consistent labor needs and represent the most accessible paths in this state.
Building the Answer Before You Need It
The law is not going to carry you far in Arkansas. The answer you walk in with is what carries you.
Start with what you did with your time inside. Inventory it honestly. Work assignments, programs completed, vocational training, education, credentials earned, responsibilities taken on. That time is not blank. What is in it is the material for the answer.
Then match it to the specific job. A food processing plant needs reliability, attention to safety protocols, and someone who shows up. A warehouse operation needs consistency and physical capability. A construction crew needs someone who follows direction and does not create problems. Whatever you are applying for, make your answer specific to what that employer actually needs, not a general apology for your past.
Practice it out loud. To another person. Until the hesitation is completely gone. The pause is what loses the room. Eliminate it before you sit down.
Companies in Arkansas That Hire People with Criminal Records
Arkansas has a distinctive employer landscape rooted in its largest industries. Several of the most accessible fair chance employers are based here or have major operations in the state.
Tyson Foods, headquartered in Springdale, is one of the largest employers in Arkansas and is known across the industry as a fair chance employer. Plant production, sanitation, and warehouse positions are the most accessible entry points. Simmons Foods, another major Arkansas poultry company, has a similar track record in production, packaging, and logistics roles. Georgia-Pacific, with paper manufacturing and operations facilities in Arkansas, evaluates applicants individually. Walmart, headquartered in Bentonville, has corporate fair chance commitments and operates distribution centers across the state. Pace Industries, with manufacturing operations in Arkansas, hires for entry-level machine operator and production roles. FedEx Ground distribution operations hire package handlers and warehouse associates with case-by-case background review.
Staffing agencies are the most reliable first step. PeopleReady in Fayetteville places workers in daily and weekly warehouse, construction, and light industrial roles. Staffmark in Rogers fills manufacturing, packaging, and assembly positions. Express Employment in Mountain Home handles light industrial, assembly, and packaging. A strong performance record through any staffing agency builds recent work history that future employers weigh instead of the gap.
For the full national list of companies with public fair chance commitments, see the InmateAid Fair Chance Employer Reference List.
The Tax Credit Employers Get for Hiring You
Here is the closing argument for every conversation with an employer on the fence.
There is a federal program called the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, or WOTC. When an employer hires someone from a qualifying group, including individuals recently released from prison, the employer may receive a significant federal tax credit per qualifying hire. That is not charity. It is a business incentive the federal government created specifically to make hiring returning citizens financially advantageous.
You are not asking anyone to take a risk on you. You are telling them your hire comes with a tax benefit attached that none of the other thirty applicants can offer. Say it at the end of the interview, after you have made your case: I qualify for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. Hiring me may put money back in your business. And I will give you the best work you have ever gotten from a new hire, because I have too much to lose to give you anything less.
The Arkansas Division of Workforce Services administers WOTC coordination through its 26 Workforce Centers statewide.
Where to Get Help in Arkansas
The Arkansas Division of Workforce Services operates 26 Workforce Centers across the state. These centers provide job search assistance, resume help, labor market information, training referrals, and WOTC coordination. The Division regularly hosts reentry employment events where returning citizens can connect directly with employers. Find your nearest Arkansas Workforce Center through the ADWS website at dws.arkansas.gov.
The Arkansas Employment Career Center in Little Rock serves justice-impacted job seekers with training, certification assistance, and job placement services. Located at 300 South Spring Street, Suite 300, Little Rock, phone 501-615-8922.
The City of Little Rock Community Programs Office provides pre-release programming, employment placement, and employment readiness training for individuals returning from incarceration. Contact at 500 West Markham Street, Little Rock, phone 501-371-4510.
The Federal Bonding Program, available through Arkansas Workforce Centers, provides free fidelity bonding to employers who hire returning citizens. This directly removes one of the most common reasons employers hesitate. Ask your Workforce Center counselor to connect a prospective employer with this program.
Arkansas registered apprenticeship programs, available through the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, provide structured training with pay in the building trades and other fields. For returning citizens targeting skilled trades, apprenticeship is one of the strongest long-term paths.
Frequently asked questions
Can employers in Arkansas ask about my criminal record?
Yes. Arkansas has no statewide law restricting when private employers can ask about criminal history. A private company can ask on the initial application and screen you out before an interview or any conversation about your qualifications. Little Rock has a local ordinance delaying criminal history inquiries for city employment and city contractors. State agency positions have job-relatedness requirements tied to background checks. Federal FCRA protections apply when a consumer reporting agency runs your background check, requiring written consent and notice before adverse action. Federal contractors are covered by the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act.
Does Arkansas have ban the box for private employers?
No. Arkansas is one of eleven states with no statewide ban the box law and no statewide fair chance hiring protection for private employers. The state has no general law restricting how private employers use conviction records in hiring. Little Rock's local ordinance covers city employment and city contractors only. State agency employment has some job-relatedness requirements, but these do not extend to the private sector. Federal law and EEOC guidance provide procedural protections but not the right to be evaluated before your record is seen.
What jobs can I not get with a felony in Arkansas?
Arkansas limits certain conviction types from specific licensed occupations and positions involving direct contact with children, the elderly, or people with disabilities. Arkansas reduced its licensing lookback period from seven years to three in 2024, which means older convictions fall outside the review window for most licensing decisions. Research the specific licensing board for any credentialed profession before investing in training. Law enforcement, childcare, and direct care healthcare roles typically have the most restrictive bars. Food processing, manufacturing, construction, warehouse, and logistics work are the most accessible starting points.
How do I explain my record in a job interview?
Do not pause. Come in with the answer built and rehearsed: everybody deserves a second chance, somebody is going to give you one, and they are going to get the best employee they ever had because you are never going back. Connect what you did inside specifically to what this employer needs. End by mentioning that your hire qualifies for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. Make it about value delivered, not apology made.
What is the Work Opportunity Tax Credit?
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit, or WOTC, is a federal tax credit available to employers who hire workers from qualifying groups, including people recently released from prison. The credit can be significant per qualifying hire based on wages and hours worked in the first year. It is administered through the IRS and the Department of Labor. Arkansas Workforce Centers process the certification paperwork. It is a real financial incentive, and you should mention it at the end of every interview.
Do employers get a tax credit for hiring ex-felons?
Yes. Under the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, employers who hire qualifying returning citizens may receive a meaningful federal tax credit. Bring this up at the end of your interview as a closing argument. Your hire comes with a tax benefit the other applicants cannot offer. Ask your Arkansas Workforce Center counselor for documentation you can share with a prospective employer so they can apply for the credit.
What Arkansas programs help people with records find work?
The Arkansas Division of Workforce Services operates 26 Workforce Centers statewide offering job search help, training referrals, reentry employment events, and WOTC coordination. The Arkansas Employment Career Center in Little Rock provides training, certification, and job placement for justice-impacted job seekers. The City of Little Rock Community Programs Office provides pre-release programming and employment placement. The Federal Bonding Program is available through ADWS Workforce Centers at no cost to employers or job seekers.
Can I get a license with a felony in Arkansas?
It depends on the license and the offense. Arkansas reduced its lookback period for occupational licensing from seven years to three years in 2024, meaning convictions older than three years are generally outside the review window for most licensing decisions. For convictions within three years, licensing boards evaluate whether the offense specifically and directly relates to the duties of the occupation. Research the specific licensing board before investing time or money in training. The Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing is the starting point for most licensed trades.
What companies in Arkansas hire people with felonies?
Tyson Foods, Simmons Foods, Georgia-Pacific, Walmart distribution centers, Pace Industries, and FedEx Ground are among the most accessible Arkansas employers for returning citizens. Staffing agencies including PeopleReady, Staffmark, and Express Employment place workers in manufacturing, warehouse, and industrial roles with more flexibility than direct hire processes. Arkansas's food processing and manufacturing base creates consistent demand in entry-level production roles, which are among the most fair-chance-friendly positions in the state. For the full national list, see the InmateAid Fair Chance Employer Reference List.
How do I get hired if I have a long gap in my work history?
Name what you did inside and frame it as work with context. Programs completed, vocational training, work assignments, responsibilities taken on -- none of that is a blank. Staffing agencies are the fastest path back into regular employment and are more flexible on background review. Build ninety days of solid performance anywhere, and that recent record becomes what employers see instead of the gap. In Arkansas's food processing and manufacturing sectors especially, showing up consistently and performing matters more than paperwork history. ---