North Carolina – Employment & Job Training
North Carolina Employment & Job Training for Justice-Involved Adults
A statewide, living directory of job centers, reentry employment programs, and job training options in North Carolina that may work with people on probation, parole, or pretrial supervision. Policies change often — always contact the program directly and get approval from your officer, attorney, or court before counting anything toward your requirements.
Statewide & Online Programs
Available across North Carolina (check your closest site for details).
✅ Reentry-focused Statewide reentry employment support
NCWorks Career Centers – Reentry Initiative
Statewide career centers that provide resume help, job search support, Federal Bonding, and reentry-trained staff for people with criminal records.
Statewide career centers that provide resume help, job search support, Federal Bonding, and reentry-trained staff for people with criminal records.
Varies
Search “Find a Center”
Search “Find a Center”
NC Department of Adult Correction – Transition & Reentry Services
Coordinates employment, housing, and stabilization supports for people leaving prison, often working alongside NCWorks and Local Reentry Councils.
Coordinates employment, housing, and stabilization supports for people leaving prison, often working alongside NCWorks and Local Reentry Councils.
Statewide
Reentry Employment Program Finder (CareerOneStop)
National directory listing many North Carolina reentry programs that help with job search, training, and employer connections.
National directory listing many North Carolina reentry programs that help with job search, training, and employer connections.
Online
🛠️ General Workforce & training programs
Workforce Development Boards & WIOA Training
Local Workforce Boards and community colleges offer short-term training, industry credentials, and job placement assistance. Many accept justice-involved applicants on a case-by-case basis.
Local Workforce Boards and community colleges offer short-term training, industry credentials, and job placement assistance. Many accept justice-involved applicants on a case-by-case basis.
Use NCWorks to explore WIOA-funded training near you.
Statewide
Charlotte Metro / Mecklenburg County
Counties: Mecklenburg and nearby.
✅ Reentry-focused Employment & career programs
Center for Community Transitions – LifeWorks!
Employment-readiness program for people with criminal records, offering coaching, resume help, job search support, and referrals to second-chance employers.
Employment-readiness program for people with criminal records, offering coaching, resume help, job search support, and referrals to second-chance employers.
Located on Goodwill Opportunity Campus; ask about LifeWorks! reentry services.
centerforcommunitytransitions.org
centerforcommunitytransitions.org
Charlotte, NC
Mecklenburg County Re-Entry Services
County-run program that supports returning residents with employment stability, education, and connections to community services after incarceration.
County-run program that supports returning residents with employment stability, education, and connections to community services after incarceration.
Charlotte, NC
Reentry Partners of Mecklenburg – Employment Support
Community coalition helping returning citizens with education resources, job readiness, interview clothing, and links to employers open to second-chance hiring.
Community coalition helping returning citizens with education resources, job readiness, interview clothing, and links to employers open to second-chance hiring.
Charlotte, NC
🛠️ General Workforce & job centers
NCWorks Career Centers – Charlotte / Mecklenburg
Public job centers providing job search assistance, workshops, and employer contacts. Many sites host dedicated staff for job seekers with criminal backgrounds.
Public job centers providing job search assistance, workshops, and employer contacts. Many sites host dedicated staff for job seekers with criminal backgrounds.
Search “Mecklenburg” in the NCWorks Center locator.
Charlotte area
Piedmont Triad – Greensboro / Winston-Salem / High Point
Counties: Guilford, Forsyth, Rockingham and surrounding.
✅ Reentry-focused Employment & job training
Project Reentry – Piedmont Triad Regional Council
Pre-release and post-release program helping people returning from prison with job readiness, employment support, and community reintegration across the Triad.
Pre-release and post-release program helping people returning from prison with job readiness, employment support, and community reintegration across the Triad.
Triad region
GuilfordWorks – Reentry Services
Supports justice-involved job seekers through NCWorks Career Centers in Guilford County, offering coaching, training referrals, and employer outreach.
Supports justice-involved job seekers through NCWorks Career Centers in Guilford County, offering coaching, training referrals, and employer outreach.
Greensboro / High Point
City of Winston-Salem – SOAR Program
Six-month temporary employment and job training program for people leaving incarceration or involved in the justice system, focused on successful reintegration.
Six-month temporary employment and job training program for people leaving incarceration or involved in the justice system, focused on successful reintegration.
Winston-Salem, NC
🛠️ General Workforce & community resources
Rockingham County Reentry Programs & Resource Guide
County resource hub that connects people leaving jail or prison with recovery, healthcare, and local employment and training supports.
County resource hub that connects people leaving jail or prison with recovery, healthcare, and local employment and training supports.
Rockingham County
Triangle – Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill
Counties: Wake, Durham, Orange and nearby.
✅ Reentry-focused Employment & career navigation
Durham NCWorks – Former Offender Program
NCWorks Career Center program in Durham providing individualized career counseling and job search help for people with criminal backgrounds.
NCWorks Career Center program in Durham providing individualized career counseling and job search help for people with criminal backgrounds.
Durham, NC
Local Reentry Councils – Triangle Region
County reentry councils in Wake, Durham, and Orange connect returning citizens with employment partners, training programs, and NCWorks Career Centers.
County reentry councils in Wake, Durham, and Orange connect returning citizens with employment partners, training programs, and NCWorks Career Centers.
Ask your officer or NCWorks Reentry Specialist how to contact your Local Reentry Council.
Triangle area
🛠️ General Workforce & public employment programs
Triangle NCWorks Career Centers
Public job centers offering job search labs, hiring events, and training referrals. Many have staff familiar with justice-involved job seekers.
Public job centers offering job search labs, hiring events, and training referrals. Many have staff familiar with justice-involved job seekers.
Search “Raleigh”, “Durham”, or “Chapel Hill” in the NCWorks Center locator.
Triangle area
Eastern North Carolina
Examples: Pitt, Craven, New Hanover, Wayne, Nash and surrounding.
✅ Reentry-focused Regional reentry employment support
NCWorks Reentry Specialists – Eastern Region
In many eastern counties, NCWorks sites host Regional Reentry Specialists who help people with criminal records connect to training, employers, and ID documents.
In many eastern counties, NCWorks sites host Regional Reentry Specialists who help people with criminal records connect to training, employers, and ID documents.
When you call your NCWorks center, ask if a Reentry Specialist is available.
Eastern NC
🛠️ General Workforce boards & training
NC PROWD / Kerr-Tar Workforce – Re-Entry Services
Regional program providing case management, stipends, transportation help, education, and job training that can support justice-involved participants where eligible.
Regional program providing case management, stipends, transportation help, education, and job training that can support justice-involved participants where eligible.
North-central / Eastern NC
Western North Carolina
Examples: Buncombe, Henderson, Catawba, surrounding mountain counties.
✅ Reentry-focused Reentry & employment navigation
Local Reentry Councils & NCWorks – Western Counties
Western-NC Local Reentry Councils partner with NCWorks Career Centers to help people coming home connect with employers, training, and support services.
Western-NC Local Reentry Councils partner with NCWorks Career Centers to help people coming home connect with employers, training, and support services.
Ask probation/parole or your local NCWorks center how to contact the nearest council.
Western NC
🛠️ General Workforce & training options
Community College Workforce & Continuing Education
Western community colleges offer CDL, trades, and healthcare training. Some programs accept applicants with records depending on licensing rules and employer partners.
Western community colleges offer CDL, trades, and healthcare training. Some programs accept applicants with records depending on licensing rules and employer partners.
Check admissions policies and talk with your officer before enrolling.
Regional
Important: OACRA lists information only and does not make placements or guarantee acceptance into any program. Agencies, courts, and supervision offices remain the decision-makers.
Supervision & legal limits: If you are on probation, parole, or pretrial release, always review your judgment and supervision orders, confirm any program rules directly with the provider, and get approval from your officer, attorney, or court before starting work, training, or community service.
For providers: Serve justice-involved North Carolinians and want to be listed or updated here? Email contact@oacra.app with details about your employment and training services.
