Our vision
We want criminal records and other social disadvantages to not be a barrier to entering the labour market. We believe that dignified and stable employment is the key to successful integration and the prevention of further criminal activity.
What is the problem?
A criminal record, low education and lack of work experience significantly reduce the chances of people with a criminal record finding work:
- 50% have only a basic education
- 26% have never worked legally
- 45% were long-term unemployed
Furthermore, the requirement for a clean criminal record is often overused in recruitment practices:
- 68% of employers require a criminal record check
- 55% automatically reject applicants with a criminal record
Impact on society
- People with a criminal record make up approximately 6% of the working-age population.
- Their disadvantage in the labour market means losses in economic productivity and untapped labour potential.
- The absence of stable employment is one of the key factors in recidivism.
What we have achieved
- We have developed and operate a unique non-profit employment agency for people with criminal records and cooperate with hundreds of employers.
- We have proven that employment significantly reduces recidivism – according to a study of Institute for Criminology and Social Prevention, it was approximately eight times lower among people who went through our programme than among the control group. (link: Employment as a factor in desistance)
- European Crime Prevention Award 2024 as the best European crime prevention project.
- We pushed through a legislative change abolishing the requirement of a clean criminal record for social service employees.
- We influenced the drafting of a new employment law so that socially disadvantaged people are entitled to more intensive support in finding jobs.
Inspiration for employers
We provide examples of good practice and awareness campaigns that help employers overcome prejudices and open up job opportunities for people with criminal records.
Sample campaigns
- I don’t have a halo, I have a job – the stories of Jaroslav and Jana