This list of the most felon friendly states will help you narrow down your options if you’re planning to relocate for a fresh start.
What Makes A State Felon Friendly?
Factors that make a state felon friendly include:
- Background check limits
- Ban the box laws
- Restrictions on using convictions in employment decisions
- Fair housing laws
- Occupational licensing reforms (trade, business, and professional licensing)
We don’t include restoration of civil rights or felony expungement criteria in our list of factors because those are tied to the jurisdiction where the conviction took place and won’t be affected by moving to another state.
6 Most Felon Friendly States of 2024
Here are our top picks for second chance states felons can move to.
- California
- Illinois
- Colorado
- New York
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
1. California
California is one of the most felony friendly states in the nation.
Employment
California’s Fair Chance Act stops employers asking about criminal convictions on job applications (ban the box law). A background check can only take place after a conditional job offer has been made.
Criminal convictions are not grounds for automatic exclusion from employment. Employers must carry out individual assessments that consider:
- Nature and gravity of the offense
- Age of offense
- Whether the criminal history has a direct adverse relationship to the nature, duties, or responsibilities of the job sought.
California limits criminal background inquiries to 7 years. If your conviction date, release date, or start of parole date is over 7 years old, employers cannot consider your conviction.
Occupational Licensing
Licensing may only be denied due to a criminal conviction when the crime committed has a substantial relationship to the duties, functions, or qualifications of the business or profession for which the license is sought.
Fair Housing
- Landlords and housing providers cannot use blanket bans to exclude renters with felony convictions.
- Landlords must consider the age and nature of the offense when deciding if your history negatively impacts your ability to be a good tenant.
- Landlords must allow you to provide mitigating evidence to support your application.
2. Illinois
Illinois is among the best states for felons thinking about starting over. Within the state, Cook County is particularly felon friendly.
Employment
Under the Illinois Human Rights Act employers can only use a conviction to deny employment if:
- The conviction is directly related to the job sought, potentially allowing the person to commit a similar offense.
- The conviction poses a genuine risk to public safety.
Before disqualifying a candidate, employers must consider the nature of the offense, the time elapsed since conviction, and evidence of rehabilitation.
Illinois’ ban the box law prohibits inquiries into a candidate’s criminal background unless the person has been selected for an interview or a conditional job offer has been made.
In Chicago, the city’s reentry initiative makes it easier for felons to gain municipal employment.
Occupational Licensing
Licensing boards have limited ability to disqualify applicants based on criminal convictions.
Depending on the occupation, licenses can only be denied where the felony is directly related to the practice of the profession. Mitigating factors, whether a felony is over 5 years old, and evidence of rehabilitation must also be considered.
Housing (Cook County Only)
The Cook County Just Housing Amendment sets a strict procedure landlords must follow when denying housing due to a conviction (excluding sex offenses with registration requirements).
Landlords in Cook County can’t:
- Use convictions over 3 years old to disqualify renters
- Use blanket bans for felons, charge higher rents, or require higher security deposits.
- Ask about convictions before making a rental offer.
And must:
- Disclose tenant selection criteria before charging application fees.
- Allow applicants to submit information explaining their conviction.
- Carry out individualized assessments for convictions under 3 years old.
- Show the applicant poses a demonstrable risk to their property or the safety of others.
3. Colorado
Colorado is another of the 2nd chance states felons can move to with good protections against discrimination.
Employment
Colorado’s Chance to Compete Act prevents private employers from asking about criminal convictions on job applications.
Public employers cannot ask about convictions or look at your criminal history until a conditional job offer has been made or you’ve been selected as a final candidate.
Nor can public employers automatically refuse employment based on your criminal history. They must assess whether the offense has a relationship to safety, or your ability to carry out your duties and responsibilities.
Colorado limits criminal background inquiries to 7 years. If your conviction date, release date, or start of parole date is over 7 years old, employers cannot consider your felony conviction.
Occupational Licensing
Licensing may only be denied due to a criminal conviction when the crime committed has a direct connection to the license sought. Consideration must also be given to the age of the offense and rehabilitation efforts.
Fair Housing
Under the Rental Application Fairness Act, Colorado landlords cannot deny housing based on convictions over 5 years old unless the conviction was for methamphetamine/amphetamine offenses, homicide, stalking, or a sex offense with a registration requirement.
4. New York
New York’s employment laws make it a good state for felons to consider.
Employment & Occupational Licensing
New York State public policy encourages the employment of all persons with one or more convictions.
Under Article 23-A of the Corrections Law, employers and licensing authorities are prohibited from discriminating against individuals with criminal records unless there is a direct relationship between the offense and the position/license sought, or a risk to the safety of property, individuals, or the general public.
Employers and licensing authorities must also consider:
- Nature and gravity of the offense
- Age at time of offense
- Time elapsed since the offense
- Evidence of rehabilitation
A ban the box law applies to public employers. Criminal background inquiries cannot be made until a hiring decision has been made.
See Also: what countries can felons move to?
5. Minnesota
Minnesota offers good protections for felons seeking employment in the state.
Public Employment & Occupational Licensing
The Minnesota Criminal Rehabilitation Act does not allow public employers or licensing boards to disqualify applicants because of a criminal conviction unless there is a direct relationship between the criminal history and the job/license sought, and the applicant can’t show evidence of rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation is shown if 1 year has passed since release without further crimes committed and with full compliance with parole conditions.
(Public employment not covered by the act includes, law enforcement, fire service, school bus drivers, and occupations under the Department of Health and Human Services).
Minnesota’s ban the box law applies to all employers, prohibiting background checks until an interview has taken place or a job offer has been made.
In the City of Minneapolis, criminal background checks (for municipal employment) are only permitted for positions of “sufficient sensitivity and responsibility”.
6. New Jersey
In New Jersey having a felony won’t always be a barrier to housing.
Employment
New Jersey’s Opportunity to Compete Law bans inquiries into criminal backgrounds until after a candidate has been interviewed.
Housing
Landlords cannot ask about criminal convictions until a conditional rental offer has been made. Convictions may only be considered when:
- The conviction is for a listed violent or sexual offense
- The prison sentence for a fourth-degree indictable offense concluded within the last year.
- The prison sentence for a second or third-degree indictable offense concluded within the last 4 years.
- The prison sentence for a first-degree indictable offense concluded within the last 6 years.
A landlord can only withdraw a rental offer after conducting an individualized assessment and demonstrating that the disqualification is necessary to fulfill a substantial, legitimate, and nondiscriminatory interest.
All things considered, California and Illinois are the best states for felons with the fewest barriers to housing and employment.
Read Also: Countries Felons Cannot Visit.
Charles Greg is the Co-Founder, Author, & Head Developer behind RentingtoFelons.org
With a lifelong passion for humanity.