Industry Leaders in Fair Chance Hiring: Apple (4/4)
This post is part of a four-part series featuring case studies of companies leading in fair chance hiring efforts. To be notified about future posts, follow our LinkedIn, and to read the full report, click here.
Fair chance hiring reduces recidivism rates and helps businesses improve their bottom line. In celebration of Second Chance Month this April, FreeCap Financial is highlighting case studies of companies leading in their hiring of formerly incarcerated individuals on our blog and in our 2023 Criminal Justice Report.
This week, we’re highlighting Apple for its robust support for the hiring of individuals with conviction histories. Here’s why we consider them to be an industry leader in fair chance hiring.
Fair Chance Hiring Policy: Apple’s own recruitment policy is fair chance hiring-friendly. They have a clear policy on the recruitment of formerly incarcerated individuals: they state that a criminal record does not automatically disqualify an individual for a role at Apple, and that it is only a factor when relevant to the nature of the position.
Community Partnerships for Skills Development: Partnering with several community colleges, Apple has implemented programs to support incarcerated and paroled individuals in learning new skills, creating economic opportunity. They have worked with Arts New Orleans in their Juvenile Justice Intervention Center, offering art and technology to engage incarcerated youth and equip them with workforce skills upon release. Apple also supported Houston Community College in expanding its adult literacy services to four Harris County jails.
Technology Initiatives to Advance Justice: Since their 2021 partnership with Recidiviz, a tech nonprofit partnered with criminal justice agencies, Apple has helped accelerate over 50,000 people’s removal from the criminal justice system. Their work has supported Recidiviz's efforts to track recidivism, racial disparities, costs, and more. This data has informed the actions of criminal justice leaders – in-prison case managers, agency leaders, policymakers, and others – who seek to drive meaningful changes in shrinking the criminal justice system.
Grantmaking: Apple has given grants to the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, an organization that seeks to “end mass incarceration in the state of California and across the nation.” It also invested over $200 million in its Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, which distributes criminal reform grants that support reentry services for more than 19,000 justice-impacted individuals.
What can you do to support Fair Chance Hiring?
Whether you are an investor, shareholder, or employee, we hope these insights shed light on best practices that companies can utilize to reduce mass incarceration, provide a fair chance for all job seekers, and tap into a diverse, often overlooked, pool of talent. To learn more about how you can minimize your criminal justice footprint and shape your investments to be more fair chance hiring-friendly, check out our data subscription offerings or contact us.
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Sources:
Apple, Policy on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders
Apple, Racial Equity and Justice Initiative
Apple, Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative surpasses $200 million in investments, doubling initial 2020 commitment
