• Many agencies are available across the country to help women convicted of felonies to get back in the working world.Monkey Business Images Ltd/Valueline/Getty Images
  
  According to a 2009 article originally published in the Associated Press, 52 percent of Illinois former felons return to jail within three years. But those with employment assistance have only a 13 percent recidivism rate. Some employers, however, shy away from hiring women convicted of theft or who have a history of violence. Women felons often lack job skills and education. When they come out of prison, they struggle to reconstitute their families, set up a home and get work. Community agencies can help women felons with education, training and job placement.
  
  

Center for Employment Opportunities

• The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) is located in New York City. This agency offers felons and other former prisoners help in finding jobs. It provides pre-employment training and helps formerly incarcerated people get short-term work experience. The organization then works with job developers to find long-term placement. CEO, like many community agencies, serves women with non-violent records.
  
  Center for Employment Opportunities
  
  http://www.ceoworks.org/
  
  

Women Living Free

• Women Living Free is an organization based in Phoenix, Ariz., that helps formerly incarcerated women, felons and others find work. The organization works through other community service organizations to serve these women. One year before release, women felons can enroll with Women Living Free. In the program, they learn the soft skills of job interviewing and resume writing, after which they enter the job search. Women felons participate in support groups while still inside as well as after release. A high school diploma or enrollment in a high school equivalency or vocational training programs is required.
  
  Women Living Free
  
  623-206-2823
  
  

Prison Action Committee/Community Re-Entry Program

• Women felons looking for work in Chicago can go to the Prison Action Committee/Community Re-Entry (CRP). The organization assists formerly incarcerated women with job training and job placement. High school equivalency and vocational programs are offered. Some women are helped to develop their ideas for business ventures.
  
  Prison Action Committee/Community Re-Entry Program
  
  http://thefreedomtrain.tripod.com/CRPabout.html
  
  

Second Chance

• Second Chance/STRIVE is a nationally known program that serves formerly incarcerated felons and others in several American cities. The STRIVE model offers participants a 3-week job readiness program. Based in San Diego, Second Chance helps women write resumes and acquire clothing for job interviews. The organization also organizes a job fair for the program participants. Job developers also help women felons at Second Chance/STRIVE. Women who have never had a traditional job or have not worked in many years get assistance with finding transitional work opportunities. Because of this, they are able to include some work experience on their resumes when they search for permanent jobs.
  
  Second Chance/STRIVE
  
  http://secondchanceprogram.org/contact.html