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 Dallas, TX
2026 Employers, Free Reentry Help and Record Clearing
November 3, 2026
Looking for felon friendly jobs in Dallas? Professional and business services have added the most jobs in the Dallas-Plano-Irving area recently, and health care, transportation, manufacturing, finance and construction all have major employers in the region. Local reentry networks and free workforce centers can help people with records look for work in these fields. 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 the Dallas area
The Dallas Regional Chamber lists companies such as Texas Instruments, AT&T, American Airlines, Kimberly-Clark, Toyota and McKesson as based in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Baylor Scott & White Health and JPMorgan Chase are also among the area's largest employers. The national employers below hire across the metro; start with our guides, then search each careers site for openings near you.
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Free job and reentry help in Dallas
Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas: The Dallas-area public workforce board, offering job training, job placement and job retention services.
City of Dallas FreshStart Employment Program: Helps people with records apply and interview for City of Dallas jobs, using an adjusted background check process for eligible clients. You must be 18 or older and at least six months out of incarceration; eligibility doesn't guarantee a job.
Unlocking DOORS: A Dallas reentry network that connects people leaving prison or jail with job coaching, training, housing and legal referrals, and works with employers willing to hire its clients.
Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP): Runs business and character programs inside Texas prisons and offers reentry support after release, including transitional housing, job help and mentoring, with a community hub in Dallas. Call 214-575-9909.
Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas: Free civil legal help for eligible low-income residents of 114 North and West Texas counties, including Dallas County, with expunctions and nondisclosures.
Clearing your record in Texas
Texas has two main tools: expunction and orders of nondisclosure.
Expunction completely removes records, but in Texas it is mainly for arrests and charges that did not end in a conviction: charges never filed, charges dismissed, a not-guilty verdict, or a pardon. Most adult convictions cannot be expunged.
An order of nondisclosure seals a record from the public without erasing it. It is mainly available after you complete deferred adjudication: 5 years after dismissal for a felony, 2 years for certain misdemeanors (assaultive, sexual, family, kidnapping, disorderly conduct and weapons offenses), and no wait for other misdemeanors. Some misdemeanor convictions, including some DWIs, may also qualify.
Not eligible for nondisclosure: anyone ever convicted of or placed on deferred adjudication for an offense requiring sex offender registration, murder, aggravated kidnapping, human trafficking, injury to a child, elderly or disabled person, endangering a child, stalking, certain protective-order or bond violations, or any family violence offense. A new conviction during the waiting period also disqualifies you (fine-only traffic tickets excepted).
Once a record is sealed, most job applications don't require you to disclose it, though some state agencies and licensing boards can still see it. Check your eligibility with the free Fresh Start tool on TexasLawHelp.org.
Your rights when applying in Dallas
City of Dallas jobs: Dallas removed general criminal history questions from civilian job applications in 2007 and runs background checks after a contingent offer. Police and fire applications still ask.
Dallas County jobs: the county removed conviction questions from applications for selected positions, and background checks should be limited to job-related convictions with an individualized assessment.
Private employers: Texas law doesn't stop private employers from asking about criminal history, Dallas has not adopted a private-employer fair chance rule, and a 2023 state law (HB 2127) limits Texas cities' power to regulate private employment.
Federal Bonding Program: the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) offers employers free fidelity bonds that cover the first six months of a job with no deductible. Ask about it at any Workforce Solutions office.
Work Opportunity Tax Credit: this federal tax credit for employers lapsed for people hired after December 31, 2025. TWC is still accepting applications but holding them until Congress reauthorizes the credit.
Next steps
Sources
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
Can I get a felony expunged in Texas?
Usually not if you were convicted. Texas expunction is mainly for arrests and charges that didn't lead to a conviction, such as dismissed charges, acquittals or pardons. If you completed deferred adjudication for a felony, you may be able to seal the record with an order of nondisclosure 5 years after dismissal.
What is an order of nondisclosure?
It is a court order that seals a criminal record from the public without destroying it. Law enforcement, and some state agencies and licensing boards, can still see the record.
Do I have to tell employers about a sealed record in Texas?
Most job applications don't require you to disclose an offense covered by a nondisclosure order. Some licensing boards and state agencies can still get the information.
Does Dallas have ban the box?
For public jobs, yes. The City of Dallas removed general criminal history questions from civilian job applications in 2007, and Dallas County has a ban-the-box policy for selected positions. There is no Dallas ban-the-box law for private employers.
Does the City of Dallas hire people with records?
The City's FreshStart Employment Program helps eligible people with records apply for City jobs. You must be 18 or older and at least six months out of incarceration, and eligibility doesn't guarantee a job.
Where can I get free job help in Dallas with a record?
Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas offers free job training and placement services. Unlocking DOORS connects people leaving prison or jail with reentry services and employers willing to hire its clients.
Where can I get free legal help clearing my record in Dallas?
Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas helps eligible low-income Dallas County residents with expunctions and nondisclosures. You can also check your eligibility with the free Fresh Start tool on TexasLawHelp.org.
How long do I have to wait to seal a misdemeanor in Texas?
Most misdemeanors dismissed after deferred adjudication have no waiting period, but certain assaultive, sexual, family, weapons and similar misdemeanors require 2 years. Use the free Fresh Start tool on TexasLawHelp.org to check your case.
What is the Federal Bonding Program in Texas?
The Texas Workforce Commission offers employers a free fidelity bond that covers them for six months if they hire a job seeker with a record. Ask about it at a Workforce Solutions office.
Is the Work Opportunity Tax Credit still available in Texas?
The federal WOTC lapsed for people hired after December 31, 2025. The Texas Workforce Commission is still accepting applications but won't issue decisions unless Congress reauthorizes the credit.