IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
This guide provides general information about employment opportunities in the state or jurisdiction covered by this guide. While we strive for accuracy, hiring policies change frequently. Always verify current hiring practices directly with employers. Individual results vary based on offense type, time since conviction, and specific job requirements. This is not legal advice. Consult an attorney for guidance on your specific situation.
Felon Friendly Jobs in Atlanta, GA
2026 Employers, Free Reentry Help and Record Restriction
November 3, 2026
Looking for felon friendly jobs in Atlanta? This guide brings together employers with FFJN hiring guides, free job and reentry help across metro Atlanta, how record restriction works in Georgia, and your rights when you apply. Hiring decisions are made case by case, so always check the current job posting for the role and location you want. Last reviewed November 2026.
Employers hiring in metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta is home to the headquarters of employers like The Home Depot, UPS, Coca-Cola, Chick-fil-A and Waffle House, plus some of the largest warehouse and logistics hubs in the Southeast. Home Depot and Coca-Cola were among the Georgia employers that urged lawmakers to pass the state's 2020 second-chance law. Start with the guides below, then search each employer's careers site for openings near you.
Warehouse, delivery and logistics
Retail and grocery
Food, beverage and hospitality
Browse all 370+ employer guides
Free job and reentry help in Atlanta
WorkSource Atlanta: the City of Atlanta's workforce agency offers job search help, training and referrals, and partners with Georgia Justice Project to connect reentry job seekers with employers that hire people with convictions.
WorkSource Metro Atlanta: the regional network of WorkSource Atlanta, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Atlanta Regional career centers.
Walking the Last Mile to Reentry (Georgia Department of Labor): case management, job readiness workshops and industry credentials for justice-involved job seekers. Partners include WorkSource DeKalb, WorkSource Fulton, WorkSource Gwinnett, WorkSource Metro ATL, the Urban League of Greater Atlanta and City of Refuge.
Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) Atlanta: a reentry employment program offering paid transitional work, job coaching and placement for people returning home, including on Atlanta's Historic Westside.
Georgia Justice Project: free legal help, for people who qualify, with record restriction, pardons, probation and occupational licensing. Call 404-827-0027. GJP also hosts free virtual First Fridays sessions on reading your record and checking eligibility.
CareerOneStop ReEntry Program Finder: search the U.S. Department of Labor's directory for more reentry programs near your ZIP code.
Clearing your record in Georgia
Georgia calls expungement "record restriction." A restricted record is hidden from most employer background checks, though law enforcement can still see it. What qualifies depends on how your case ended:
Arrests that did not lead to a conviction: often eligible, and many arrests after July 1, 2013 are restricted automatically.
Misdemeanor convictions: since January 1, 2021 (Senate Bill 288), you can petition to restrict up to two misdemeanor convictions in your lifetime, four years after completing your sentence with no new convictions. Some offenses, including DUI and family violence, are not eligible.
Felony convictions: can be restricted only after a pardon from the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Serious violent felonies and sexual offenses are excluded.
SB 288 also gives employers some protection from lawsuits when they hire people with criminal records, which is worth mentioning to a hiring manager. For free help, contact Georgia Justice Project or watch for record restriction events held with local district attorneys, including in Fulton County.
Your rights when applying in Atlanta
City of Atlanta jobs: the city adopted a ban-the-box ordinance in 2014, so criminal history questions come later in the hiring process. Public safety jobs and roles working with children are exceptions.
State of Georgia jobs: a 2015 executive order removed the felony conviction question from state government job applications.
Private employers: Georgia has no statewide ban-the-box law for private companies, so many employers can still ask on the application. Answer honestly and be ready with a short explanation.
Federal Bonding Program: the Georgia Department of Labor provides free six-month fidelity bonds that protect employers who hire people with records, at no cost to you or the employer. Ask at any GDOL career center.
Work Opportunity Tax Credit: employers who hire people with felony convictions may qualify for a federal tax credit, administered in Georgia by the Department of Labor. Mentioning it can help your application. Note: Congress let this federal credit lapse for people hired after December 31, 2025, so check with your state workforce agency for its current status.
Next steps
This page is for general information and is not legal advice. Employer policies and laws change; confirm details with the employer or a legal aid organization before you rely on them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies hire felons in Atlanta?
Many large metro Atlanta employers review applicants with records case by case, including UPS, FedEx, Amazon, Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart, Kroger, Waffle House and Chick-fil-A. Decisions depend on the role, location and offense, so check each current job posting.
Where can I get free job help in Atlanta if I have a record?
Start with WorkSource Atlanta or another WorkSource Metro Atlanta career center, the Georgia Department of Labor's Walking the Last Mile to Reentry program, or Center for Employment Opportunities Atlanta. Services are free.
Can I expunge a felony in Georgia?
Only after a pardon. Georgia lets you restrict and seal a felony conviction once you receive a pardon from the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Serious violent felonies and sexual offenses are excluded.
How many misdemeanors can I restrict in Georgia?
Up to two misdemeanor convictions in your lifetime, four years after you complete your sentence with no new convictions. DUI, family violence and some other offenses are not eligible.
Does Atlanta have a ban-the-box law?
Yes, for City of Atlanta government jobs since 2014. Georgia state government jobs followed in 2015. There is no statewide ban-the-box law for private employers.
Can private employers in Georgia ask about my criminal record?
Yes. Most private employers in Georgia can ask on the application and run a background check. Answer honestly and be ready to explain what has changed since your conviction.
What is the Federal Bonding Program in Georgia?
It is a free six-month fidelity bond, administered by the Georgia Department of Labor, that protects employers who hire people with records. It costs nothing for you or the employer. Ask at a GDOL career center.
Will a restricted record show up on a background check?
Restricted records are hidden from most employer background checks in Georgia, but law enforcement and some licensing agencies can still see them.
Who can help me with record restriction or a pardon in Georgia?
Georgia Justice Project offers free legal help to people who qualify. Call 404-827-0027 or visit gjp.org. Local district attorneys also hold free record restriction events.
How do I find more reentry programs near me in Atlanta?
Use the U.S. Department of Labor's CareerOneStop ReEntry Program Finder and enter your ZIP code. It lists local nonprofit and American Job Center programs that help people with records find work.