Job fair for Sumter locals with criminal backgrounds set for April 18

An event to help locals with criminal backgrounds connect with potential employers is happening later this month in Sumter.

The Second Chance Job Fair on Thursday, April 18, will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at North HOPE Center, 904 N. Main St. in Sumter.

This event will also have representatives available to help point locals in the right direction for expungement services, adult education or GED preparation, federal bonding assistance and veterans services, according to the flyer for the event.

This event is made possible through the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce.

More than one million South Carolinians have criminal convictions, according to data from paperprisons.org, and one of the most common hurdles they face is job placement. Research shows that successful job placement will make prior offenders less likely to offend again.