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Jobs for Felons in Indiana (2026) — Employers, Staffing Agencies & Reentry Programs

Felony-friendly employers hiring in Indiana, staffing agencies that place people with records, Indiana's ban-the-box and fair-chance rules, the 2026 minimum wage, and state reentry programs.

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Quick Answer

People with felony records get hired in Indiana every day. The fastest path is the same one that works everywhere: staffing and temp agencies (they know which employers are open to records), national employers with felony-friendly policies, and employers that get paid to hire you — the Work Opportunity Tax Credit pays an employer up to $2,400 for hiring someone with a felony conviction, and the Federal Bonding Program insures them for free for the first 6 months.

Indiana ban-the-box status: Executive Order 17-15 (2017) removed the box from state executive-branch applications; Indiana Code §22-2-17 (2017) preempts local ordinances such as Indianapolis' fair-chance law.

Minimum wage in Indiana: $7.25. We cover 1 metro in Indiana with local employer lists.

Indiana at a Glance

8

Featured felony-friendly employers

5

Staffing agencies in state guides

1

City job guides

$7.25

2026 minimum wage

IndianaBan-the-Box & Fair Chance Rules

State law — public employers only

Executive Order 17-15 (2017) removed the box from state executive-branch applications; Indiana Code §22-2-17 (2017) preempts local ordinances such as Indianapolis' fair-chance law.

No additional state fair-chance law.

No matter what the law says, the practical rule everywhere is the same: employers may consider a record, but they cannot have a blanket no-felons policy. Under EEOC guidance, an employer must look at the nature of the offense, how long ago it happened, and whether it relates to the job. If you were rejected solely because of a record, you can file a free complaint with the EEOC or your state civil rights agency.

Felony-Friendly Employers Hiring in Indiana

Companies featured in our Indiana city guides, with our verdict on their record-friendliness. National chains hire at locations across the state.

Does Amazon hire felons?Does Walmart hire felons?Does FedEx hire felons?Does UPS hire felons?Does Kroger hire felons?Does Target hire felons?Does Lowe's hire felons?Does Tyson Foods hire felons?

Staffing & Temp Agencies That Place People with Records

Temp agencies are the single fastest route back to work — the agency, not you, handles the employer's screening. These agencies appear across our Indiana city guides.

  • --Express Employment Professionals
  • --Manpower
  • --Kelly Services
  • --Adecco
  • --Staffmark

Register with two or three agencies at once — placements are first-come, and a wider net means fewer gap weeks.

IndianaReentry & Workforce Programs

Indiana Department of Correction Re-Entry Services (incl. Hoosier Initiative for Reentry)

Indiana's state-level reentry employment program. Website: https://www.in.gov/idoc/divisions/re-entry

Local programs from our Indiana city guides

  • --RecycleForce
  • --Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana
  • --Fathers and Families Center
  • --Indiana Department of Workforce Development
  • --IndyGo (employer partnerships)

National programs that work in every state

IndianaCity Guides — Local Employers, Agencies & Programs

Felony friendly jobs in Indianapolis

How to Get Hired in Indiana with a Record

1. Lead with the tax credit and the bond. When the application asks about your record and you get to an interview, be direct: "I have a record from a few years ago. If it matters to your hiring decision, you qualify for a $2,400 Work Opportunity Tax Credit and a free federal bond for my first six months." Employers rarely know these exist — being the candidate who does makes you the low-risk hire.

2. Start with temp, convert to permanent.Temp-to-hire lets an employer see your work ethic before they see your paperwork. Roughly 30–40% of temp placements convert. Accept the first assignment even if it's not ideal — recent work history is the asset that unlocks everything else.

3. Know what Indiana employers can ask. The state's ban-the-box rules cover public employers; private employers in Indiana can ask on applications, but city ordinances may add limits. Answer honestly when asked — lying on an application is itself a firing offense and reads worse than most convictions.

4. Check whether your record can be cleared. A pardon or expungement changes the job search completely. Read our Indiana expungement guide and Indiana pardon guide.

5. Get the interview in person when you can.Records screened by software reject; records evaluated by a human who has met you often don't. Walk in, apply in person for local and service jobs, and ask for the manager. It's the oldest advice there is because it works.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Indiana have a ban-the-box law?
Executive Order 17-15 (2017) removed the box from state executive-branch applications; Indiana Code §22-2-17 (2017) preempts local ordinances such as Indianapolis' fair-chance law. No additional state fair-chance law.
What companies hire felons in Indiana?
Based on our Indiana city guides, 8 companies with felony-friendly track records hire here — including national chains in trucking, warehousing, food service, manufacturing, and staffing (full list above, each with our verdict on their background check policy). The companies most consistently open to records nationwide: temp agencies (Express Employment, PeopleReady, ProLogistix), warehouses and logistics (Amazon, UPS, FedEx), food production, and staffing-fed manufacturers.
What is the minimum wage in Indiana in 2026?
$7.25. Entry-level and temp work generally pays at or above this floor; warehouses, manufacturing, and CDL driving pay well above it. If a job offer pays less than the legal minimum, file a wage claim with the Indiana labor department — it's free.
Can a Indiana employer run a background check and reject me for a felony?
Yes, but not automatically. Under federal EEOC guidance, an employer must consider the nature of your offense, how long ago it occurred, and its relevance to the job — a blanket no-felons policy is illegal discrimination risk. Background check timing rules in Indiana depend on state law and city ordinances; the federal individualized-assessment rule always applies. If you're rejected because of a record, you're entitled to a copy of the background report (FCRA) and can dispute errors.
What reentry employment help does Indiana offer?
Indiana operates Indiana Department of Correction Re-Entry Services (incl. Hoosier Initiative for Reentry) (https://www.in.gov/idoc/divisions/re-entry). Every state also has American Job Centers (careeronestop.org) with free job search help for people with records, plus the federal tools that travel anywhere: the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (employers get up to $2,400 for hiring you) and the Federal Bonding Program (free insurance on your first 6 months). Local programs from our Indiana city guides are listed above.
Do staffing agencies in Indiana hire people with felony records?
Yes — staffing agencies are the most record-friendly corner of the job market, because the agency absorbs the screening and vouches for you to its client companies. Agencies active in Indiana (from our city guides) are listed above. Register with several at once and tell them up front about your record so they only send you to clients that accept it.

Jobs for Felons — Every State

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Nearby guides: Texas, California, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee

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Disclaimer: This is informational only, not legal advice. Employment laws, ban-the-box coverage, and minimum wage rates change — confirm current rules with the Indiana labor department or a legal aid office before acting on them.

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