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 Houston, TX
2026 Employers, Free Reentry Help and Record Clearing
November 3, 2026
Looking for felon friendly jobs in Houston? The Houston area's largest employers include Walmart, H-E-B and Memorial Hermann Health System, and education and health services have led recent local job growth. Retail and wholesale, transportation and energy are also major sources of jobs, and free career centers and reentry programs can help people with records find openings 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 Houston area
Walmart, H-E-B and Memorial Hermann Health System are among the Houston metro's largest employers, according to a 2024 HUD market report, and Houston is an international center for the energy industry. 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 Houston
Workforce Solutions – Gulf Coast: Free one-on-one job search help, career coaching, resume and interview prep, hiring events and training at career offices across a 13-county region that includes Harris County, plus a reentry resource map. Call 1-888-469-5627.
Houston Health Department Community Re-Entry Network Program: A City of Houston program for formerly incarcerated people with case management, job readiness, life skills courses, peer support groups, computer labs and help with transportation and benefit applications. Call 832-393-5467.
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 Houston. Call 832-767-0928.
Lone Star Legal Aid: Houston-based civil legal aid that helps with nondisclosures and has partnered on free expunction clinics in Harris County. Call 713-652-0077.
Beacon Law (a program of The Beacon): Free legal help for people who are homeless or low-income, including expunctions and nondisclosures for Harris County offenses.
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 Houston
City of Houston jobs: the City's HR page says it follows ban the box, and each department sets a lookback period based on how long ago a conviction was and the duties of the job.
Harris County jobs: since January 2022, most county departments don't ask about criminal history on applications, run background checks only after a conditional offer, and must make an individualized assessment.
Private employers: neither Texas law nor any Houston ordinance stops private employers from asking about criminal history, 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 Houston have ban the box?
For public jobs, yes. The City of Houston says it follows ban the box, and Harris County adopted a fair chance policy for most county jobs in 2022. There is no Houston ban-the-box law for private employers.
Can private employers in Houston ask about my criminal record?
Yes. Texas has no state law that stops private employers from asking about criminal history on an application, and Houston has no private-employer ordinance.
Where can I get free job help in Houston with a record?
Workforce Solutions – Gulf Coast offers free career coaching, job search help and training (1-888-469-5627). The Houston Health Department's Community Re-Entry Network Program (832-393-5467) offers job readiness and case management for formerly incarcerated people.
Where can I get free legal help clearing my record in Houston?
Lone Star Legal Aid (713-652-0077) and Beacon Law help eligible low-income Houstonians with expunctions and nondisclosures. Free clinics are also held from time to time; check 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.