Individuals Who Are Justice-Involved

Hands resting between jail bars.

Nearly 610,000 people who were formerly incarcerated at state and federal prisons reenter communities each year. People who are justice-involved often have trouble finding jobs, and since they may be “starting over,” have very limited resources. As a result, they are more likely to find low-wage or temporary jobs, making financial stability difficult to achieve.

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) can provide meaningful financial support for justice-involved people, improving their ability to secure long-term employment and reducing the risk of recidivism. (Note: Income from jobs worked in prison does not count for these tax credits.)

Additionally, approximately 2.7 million children have a parent who is in a U.S. prison or jail. Tens of thousands of children stay with a relative or enter foster care when a parent is incarcerated. The EITC and CTC can provide these caregivers with a much-needed financial boost.

CONNECT WITH

  • Reentry organizations
  • Parole agencies
  • Legal aid offices
  • Organizations that serve relatives of people who are incarcerated
  • Employers

STRATEGIES

1. Reach out to reentry-focused organizations.

Enlist state and local reentry programs, including rehabilitative programs and post-release transitional programs. These programs often provide job training and job placement help for justice-involved people to secure employment upon their return to the community. Outreach campaigns can train reentry program staff about the tax credits so that they can incorporate this information into their services.

Encourage reentry advocacy groups and faith-based organizations to display tax credit flyers in highly visible community areas, such as laundromats, gas stations and convenience stores. These groups can also host events to highlight the support systems needed for people reentering society.

2. Partner with parole agencies and corrections officials.

Work with parole agencies and corrections officials to help ensure people who are approaching release from prison are aware of the EITC, CTC, and free tax filing help upon their reentry into the community. Some parole agencies help link people on parole to job training programs and can play a key role in sharing this information.

Encourage corrections officials to include tax credit information in financial education classes. Some people who are justice-involved may be eligible to claim these tax credits based on work completed prior to entering prison.

3. Educate local public defenders and legal aid office staff.

In addition to providing legal representation, legal aid offices may appoint case managers to help clients find community resources. Such offices can provide information about the tax credits and where to find free tax filing help.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is a public nonprofit organization that provides funding for civil legal aid services across the country. Use the locator tool to find LSC-funded legal aid organizations in your community.

A desk with a gavel, balance scale, and legal books.

4. Ensure that relatives caring for children of a parent who is in prison are aware of their eligibility for the EITC and CTC.

Work with organizations that serve relatives of people who are incarcerated. Some communities run programs for children of justice-involved parents, such as emergency childcare, day care, and part-time summer camps.

The National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated is a national organization that provides support for families of justice-involved individuals and has a directory of state and local programs

5. Let employers know about the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC).

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is available to employers for every qualified new worker hired from one of ten categories, including formerly incarcerated people. The credit is generally worth up to $2,400 per eligible new hire, but can range from $1,200 to $9,600 depending on the hiring category and number of hours worked. New employees must be hired within one year of the date on which they were released from prison. Learn more about the WOTC.

The WOTC is set to expire in 2026. Unless extended, the WOTC will no longer be available for employees who begin work after December 31, 2025.

A justice-involved person working at a bakery.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES