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 Phoenix, AZ
2026 Employers, Free Reentry Help and Record Clearing
November 3, 2026
Looking for felon friendly jobs in Phoenix? Education and health services drove most recent net job gains in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler area, and government, retail and wholesale, and transportation and utilities have also added jobs. ARIZONA@WORK centers and local nonprofits offer free help to job seekers with records. 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 Phoenix area
The State of Arizona, Banner Health and Amazon are the Phoenix metro's three largest employers, according to Maricopa Association of Governments data cited by HUD. 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 Phoenix
ARIZONA@WORK City of Phoenix: The City's public workforce center, with free career coaching, resume and interview help, job search help, short-term skills training, hiring events and job fairs.
ARIZONA@WORK / DES Reentry Services: A state partnership that helps people in prison or on parole and other justice-involved job seekers with resume and interview prep, job training and employment support.
Community Legal Services (CLS): Free set-aside clinics in the Phoenix area for income-eligible people with Arizona convictions, plus help with Prop 207 marijuana expungement petitions. Call 602-258-3434.
St. Joseph the Worker: A free workforce program for people facing barriers to work, with resume writing, interview coaching, transportation help, work clothing and re-entry programming.
Arouet Foundation: Serves justice-impacted women with pre-release programs and support after release; in 2026 it partnered with the Center for Employment Opportunities on a paid transitional jobs program in Phoenix.
Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona: Free career centers with job search and career development services, including re-entry programming.
Clearing your record in Arizona
Arizona offers three kinds of record relief:
Set-aside (A.R.S. 13-905): after you finish your sentence or probation, a judge can set aside a conviction. It releases you from most penalties but doesn't erase the record, and you must still answer yes if asked directly whether you've been convicted (you can add that it was set aside). Dangerous offenses, offenses requiring sex offender registration and felonies with a victim under 15 aren't eligible.
Record sealing (A.R.S. 13-911): once the non-money terms of your sentence are complete, you can petition after 10 years for a class 2 or 3 felony, 5 years for a class 4, 5 or 6 felony, 3 years for a class 1 misdemeanor and 2 years for a class 2 or 3 misdemeanor. A prior historical felony can add 5 years. After sealing, you can generally say you were never arrested, charged or convicted on job applications.
Not eligible for sealing: dangerous offenses, dangerous crimes against children, serious, violent or aggravated felonies, offenses involving a deadly weapon or knowingly causing serious injury, sex trafficking and certain felony sex offenses. Even after sealing, you must disclose for fingerprint clearance cards, law enforcement and court jobs, certain jobs with minors, and where law requires it.
Prop 207 marijuana expungement (A.R.S. 36-2862): for conduct before November 30, 2020, you can petition to fully expunge records for possessing up to 2.5 oz (no more than 12.5 g of concentrate), growing up to 6 plants at home, or related paraphernalia. Community Legal Services runs free clinics for income-eligible people (602-258-3434).
Your rights when applying in Phoenix
City of Phoenix jobs: the City asks about convictions at the conditional offer stage, runs background checks after the offer, generally looks back 7 years and reviews each case on its own facts.
Arizona state agency jobs: a November 2017 executive order removed criminal history questions from state agency job applications. It doesn't cover private employers.
Private employers: no Arizona law or Phoenix ordinance stops private employers from asking about criminal history. Arizona law (A.R.S. 12-558.03) does generally protect employers from negligent-hiring lawsuits based only on an employee's past conviction, with exceptions for violent and sexual offenses.
Federal Bonding Program: the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) offers employers free fidelity bonds up to $25,000 for six months with no deductible, requested after a job offer is accepted.
Work Opportunity Tax Credit: this federal tax credit for employers lapsed for people hired after December 31, 2025. DES is accepting applications but won't process them until Congress reauthorizes the program.
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 Arizona?
Arizona doesn't expunge most convictions; true expungement is mainly for eligible marijuana offenses under Prop 207. Many felonies can instead be set aside or sealed. Sealing a class 4, 5 or 6 felony has a 5-year wait, and a class 2 or 3 felony a 10-year wait.
What's the difference between a set-aside and sealing in Arizona?
A set-aside dismisses the case and releases most penalties, but the record still shows the conviction as set aside and you must disclose it if asked directly. Sealing limits access to the record, and for most job applications you can then say you were never arrested, charged or convicted of that offense.
Do I have to tell employers about a sealed record in Arizona?
For most jobs, no. Exceptions include fingerprint clearance card applications, jobs with law enforcement, courts and corrections, certain jobs working with minors or driving, and any job where state or federal law requires disclosure.
Which offenses can't be sealed in Arizona?
Dangerous offenses, dangerous crimes against children, serious, violent or aggravated felonies, offenses involving a deadly weapon or knowingly causing serious physical injury, sex trafficking, and certain felony sex offenses.
Can I clear an old marijuana charge in Arizona?
Possibly. Under Prop 207 you can petition to expunge records for possessing up to 2.5 oz (no more than 12.5 g of concentrate), growing up to 6 plants at home, or related paraphernalia, if the conduct happened before November 30, 2020.
Does Phoenix have ban the box?
For City jobs, Phoenix asks about convictions at the conditional offer stage and runs background checks after the offer. Arizona state agencies removed the question from applications in 2017. There is no ban-the-box rule for private employers in Phoenix.
Can private employers in Arizona ask about my criminal record?
Yes. Arizona has no ban-the-box law for private employers, though state law protects employers from most negligent-hiring lawsuits based only on a past conviction.
Where can I get free job help in Phoenix with a record?
ARIZONA@WORK City of Phoenix offers free career coaching, job search help and training, and ARIZONA@WORK reentry services work with people on parole and other justice-involved job seekers. St. Joseph the Worker and the Arouet Foundation (for women) also help.
Where can I get free legal help to set aside or seal my record in Phoenix?
Community Legal Services runs free set-aside and expungement clinics for income-eligible people with Arizona convictions. Call 602-258-3434 to check eligibility.
What is the Federal Bonding Program in Arizona?
Arizona DES offers employers free fidelity bond coverage of up to $25,000 for six months when they hire an eligible job seeker, including people with records. It's requested after the job offer is accepted.