Does Amazon Hire Felons in 2025?

Does Amazon hire felons? Yes—Amazon does hire people with felony convictions, but it’s always on a case‑by‑case basis, not a guaranteed “everyone with a record gets in” situation.

So, you’re wondering if Amazon will hire you with a felony and the internet has given you everything except a straight answer. No fluff, no fake hope—just clarity.

Here it is:

If you’re asking, “Does Amazon hire felons in 2025?” the answer is still yes, but your odds depend heavily on:

• What the offense was
• How long ago it happened
• What job you’re applying for
• Your state’s laws and fair chance protections

Let’s unpack how Amazon hires felons, which Amazon jobs for felons are most realistic, and what you can actually do to improve your chances.

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1. Amazon’s Overall Approach to Hiring People With Records

Amazon does not have a blanket “no felons” rule

Amazon isn’t sitting in a boardroom saying, “Felons? Absolutely not.” In fact, multiple fair‑chance and re‑entry job sites confirm that Amazon hires people with felony convictions on a case‑by‑case basis. (Felon Friendly Jobs Now)

In normal‑human language, that means:

• A felony does not automatically disqualify you
• Your record is reviewed individually, including:
  • What the charge was
  • How long ago it happened
  • Whether it connects to the Amazon job you want
  • Your work history and rehabilitation efforts

Groups like Help For Felons, Felon Friendly, and Felon Friendly Jobs Now report that thousands of people with felonies are currently working at Amazon warehouses and in delivery operations across the U.S. (Felon Friendly Jobs Now)

Translation: You’re not the first person with a record to knock on Amazon’s door. You’re just the latest.

Public “fair‑chance” commitments

Amazon has also made a few public moves that matter if you’re searching for felon‑friendly jobs:

• It signed the Fair Chance Business Pledge, which basically says, “We’ll try not to automatically write people off for having a record.” (Felon Friendly Jobs Now)
• It’s been pressured in states with Ban the Box / Fair Chance laws (like Washington and California) to clean up how it uses criminal history in hiring. After investigations, Amazon had to adjust its background check processes to better follow the rules. (GeekWire)

Does this mean a guaranteed Amazon job for everyone with a felony? No.
Does it mean they officially have the door cracked open to hiring felons? Yes.

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2. What Types of Amazon Jobs Are Most Open to Felons?

If you’re wondering which Amazon jobs for felons are actually realistic, here’s the honest breakdown.

You’re probably not walking straight into a senior finance role with a fresh fraud conviction. But there are real entry points where Amazon is more open to applicants with records.

Common roles where felons report getting hired

Based on fair‑chance job sites and real‑world reports, these jobs are the “start here” options if you’re trying to get hired at Amazon with a felony: (Felon Friendly Jobs Now)

• Warehouse Associate / Fulfillment Center Worker
  • Picking, packing, stowing, shipping
  • Massive hiring volume = more chances
• Sortation Center Associate
  • Sorting packages by route and region
• Package Handler
  • Moving boxes, loading/unloading trucks
• Delivery roles (mixed chances)
  • Amazon DSP driver – employed by a local delivery partner
  • Amazon Flex driver – independent contractor using your own car
• Amazon Fresh / Whole Foods roles in some areas
• Customer Service (limited)
  • Some justice‑impacted people report getting call center or remote support roles, but those usually involve stricter screening

If you want the path of least resistance: warehouses and logistics roles are your best shot when it comes to Amazon hiring felons. More hiring = more room for second chances.

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3. How Amazon’s Background Check Works

If you search “Amazon background check for felons” or “Does Amazon run background checks on felons?”, here’s what’s really going on.

What Amazon generally checks

Amazon uses third‑party background screeners (think Accurate Background, First Advantage, Sterling) to look at: (FelonFriendly.us)

• Criminal history (usually around 7 years, depending on where you live)
• Employment history
• Education (for some roles)
• Driving record (for driving jobs like DSP/Flex)

They usually run the background check after you’ve cleared some initial steps—like the online application, assessments, or a conditional offer—especially in Fair Chance / Ban the Box states.

Most people report 2–14 days for the background check to clear, depending on how fast your county courts move. (FelonFriendly.us)

How far back does Amazon look?

Common pattern (with important caveats):

• Many states and screening companies follow a 7‑year reporting window for most criminal records. (FelonFriendly.us)
• But some serious offenses (like sex crimes) or certain states allow longer look‑backs.

So if your conviction is older than 7 years, there’s a chance it might not appear—but don’t assume it’s invisible. Systems make mistakes, and laws vary by state. If Amazon hires felons in your area, you should still be ready to talk about your record if it comes up.

Pending charges vs. past convictions

If your case isn’t over yet, things get more complicated.

Reports from job boards suggest that pending felony charges can be a roadblock, with some applicants being denied until the case is resolved. (Indeed Q&A)

If your charge is still open, you may need to:

• Focus on smaller employers or temp work first
• Wait until the case is dismissed, reduced, or resolved before aiming at Amazon

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4. What Kinds of Felonies Are More (and Less) Likely to Be Accepted?

Amazon doesn’t publish a neat little chart that says:

“Today’s Special: 1 non‑violent felony, over 7 years old, served with a side of rehab.”

But if you look at fair‑chance resources, legal cases, and reports from people who’ve actually applied, patterns do show up. (FelonFriendly.us)

Felonies that are more likely to be considered

Not “guaranteed yes,” but “possible if the rest of your story is strong” when you’re trying to get hired at Amazon with a felony:

• Non‑violent drug offenses
  • Simple possession
  • Low‑level distribution with no violence
• Older DUIs / DWIs
  • Especially if you’re not applying for a driving position
• Non‑violent property crimes, if they’re old and isolated
  • Certain theft or burglary charges, depending heavily on context
• Single, older offenses with clean time since
  • Completed probation/parole
  • No repeat offenses
  • Solid work history afterward

If your felony is 5–10+ years old, you’ve stayed out of trouble, and you can show stability, your chances of finding Amazon jobs for felons go up.

Felonies that are usually high‑risk for Amazon

These are the “we really need to look at this closely” types for Amazon hiring with a felony: (FelonFriendly.us)

• Violent crimes
  • Assault (especially with a weapon)
  • Robbery
  • Homicide‑related offenses
• Sex offenses
  • Especially anything that puts you on a sex offender registry
  • Often a hard “no,” particularly for Amazon Flex or any job with residential deliveries (Felon Friendly Jobs Now – Amazon Flex)
• Theft / fraud from employers
  • Embezzlement
  • Organized retail theft
  • Check fraud
  • Identity theft
• Recent or repeated felonies
  • Multiple convictions in a short time
  • Violations while on probation or parole

But remember: there is no universal rule. Some people with serious records get hired; some with minor ones don’t. When it comes to Amazon hiring felons, it’s always context + timing + role = outcome.

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5. Differences by Role: Warehouse vs. Drivers vs. Corporate

Same company, totally different risk levels depending on what you’ll be doing all day.

Warehouse & Fulfillment Jobs

If you’ve got a record, this is usually the best starting point for felon‑friendly Amazon jobs:

• Constant hiring = more openings
• Less customer interaction; mostly physical work and operations
• Many reports of people with felonies (even recent, non‑violent ones) being hired here (Felon Friendly Jobs Now)

That said, offenses involving theft or violence can still make it harder, since you’ll be around valuable inventory and lots of coworkers.

Amazon DSP and Amazon Flex Drivers

Driving jobs come with extra rules and more scrutiny:

• You’re on the road
• You’re going to people’s homes and workplaces
• You’re the brand people see

Fair‑chance resources say Flex and many DSPs will not accept certain felonies within the last 7 years, especially: (Felon Friendly Jobs Now – Flex)

• Violence
• Vehicle‑related crimes (recent DUI, reckless driving, hit‑and‑run)
• Theft, robbery, burglary
• Sex offenses

However, some people with older, non‑violent felonies do report working as drivers. Policies depend on:

• Your state’s laws
• Insurance requirements
• The specific DSP partner’s rules

If your record involves driving or violence, the safer move is usually: warehouse first, driver later (maybe).

Corporate, Tech, and Sensitive Roles

These are the “more background checks than a nosy neighbor” positions:

• Corporate office
• IT / security / finance / HR
• Roles with access to customer data or high‑value inventory

Here, Amazon tends to care a lot more about:

• Fraud, theft, hacking, identity theft
• Any offense that suggests risk with money, data, or trust

It’s not impossible to reach these roles eventually—but trying to land them as your first Amazon job with a serious record is an uphill climb. Many people start in the warehouse, prove reliability, then aim for promotions or internal transfers.

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6. How State Laws Affect Your Chances (Ban the Box & Fair Chance)

Your record is one factor. Your zip code is another.

Fair Chance / Ban the Box states

Some states and cities have “Ban the Box” or Fair Chance laws that basically tell employers:

“Stop asking about criminal history on page one of the application like it’s your favorite hobby.”

Common features: (FelonFriendly.us)

• No criminal history questions on the initial application
• Background checks happen after:
  • A conditional job offer, or
  • A determination that you’re otherwise qualified
• Employers must:
  • Consider time since offense, nature, and relevance to the job
  • Avoid blanket “no felons” policies
  • Provide notice and a chance to respond if they plan to deny you because of your record

States and big cities with stronger protections include (not complete):

• California, New York, Illinois, Washington, Colorado
• Cities like NYC, Philadelphia, Seattle, and more (FelonFriendly.us)

Because Amazon has warehouses everywhere, it’s had to change how it does background checks in these areas. In Washington, for example, Amazon adjusted its Flex driver process after pressure from the Attorney General. (GeekWire)

If you’re in a Fair Chance state, you’re more likely to:

• Be judged first on your skills, then your record
• Get written notices and a chance to correct errors if your background check causes problems

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7. Practical Tips to Get Hired at Amazon With a Felony

Now for the part that actually changes things: what you can do.

1. Aim for the most realistic roles first

Your opening move matters if you want Amazon to hire felons like you.

Better first targets:

• Warehouse / Fulfillment / Sortation
• Package handler roles

Try to skip—for now—if your record is serious or recent:

• Driving jobs
• Finance, IT, or anything dealing with sensitive data or money
• Roles handling high‑value assets in secure areas

Get in the door where Amazon is most flexible, build a track record, then level up.

2. Be prepared to be honest (and specific)

The background check will pick up most recent convictions. Lying turns a “maybe” into a “no” faster than anything.

Prepare a tight 1–2 minute explanation that hits:

• What happened – short, factual, no 20‑minute backstory
• How long ago it was
• What’s changed since – treatment, programs, stable work, clean time
• What you learned – and why it won’t happen again

Practice saying it out loud until you don’t sound defensive or ashamed—just accountable and focused on the future.

3. Strengthen the rest of your application

You’re competing with people who don’t have a felony. Your goal: make it clear you’re still worth a serious look.

Do things like:

• Build a clean, simple resume:
  • Any warehouse, construction, factory, moving, or physical labor experience
  • Long stretches at past jobs (shows reliability)
  • Any safety‑related training (forklift, OSHA, etc.)
• Collect references:
  • Former bosses or coworkers
  • Re‑entry or nonprofit program leaders
  • Probation/parole officers who are willing to say, “This person is doing the work”
• Add relevant training:
  • Short warehouse/logistics courses
  • Forklift certification
  • Online communication or customer service training (for people‑facing roles)

The stronger the rest of your profile, the less weight your record has.

4. Know your rights around background checks

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and many state laws: (FelonFriendly.us)

• Amazon has to get your permission to run a background check
• If they want to deny you because of that report, they must:
  • Send a pre‑adverse action notice (aka “we might say no”)
  • Give you a copy of the report
  • Give you a chance to dispute errors
• If they finalize the denial, they must send an adverse action notice

Background checks are not perfect. Mistakes happen:

• Wrong person with your same name
• Charges that were dismissed still showing
• Old stuff that shouldn’t be reported in your state

If something looks off, you can dispute it with the background screening company.

5. Consider your timing and pattern

If your felony is very recent (think last 6–12 months) or you have multiple recent felonies, Amazon—and most big employers—will probably hesitate.

In that case, a better game plan might be:

• Start with smaller local businesses or re‑entry‑friendly employers
• Rack up 6–12 months of clean work performance
• Gather strong references
• Then try Amazon again with a much better story:
  • “Here’s what I did. Here’s how I changed. Here’s the work I’ve done since.”

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8. Key Takeaways: Does Amazon Hire Felons?

Let’s boil this down so you don’t need a study guide.

• Yes, Amazon hires people with felonies. There is no across‑the‑board “no felons” policy. (Felon Friendly Jobs Now)
• Decisions are case‑by‑case, based on:
  • Type and seriousness of the offense
  • How long ago it happened
  • How related it is to the role
  • Proof of rehabilitation and work history
• Warehouse and fulfillment jobs are usually the best entry point for Amazon jobs for felons.
• Violent, sexual, theft‑from‑employer, and very recent offenses get the most scrutiny.
• Fair Chance / Ban the Box laws in many states force Amazon to handle criminal records more carefully and transparently.
• You can improve your odds by:
  • Applying for realistic roles
  • Being honest and prepared to explain your record
  • Strengthening your resume and references
  • Knowing and using your rights around background checks

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Next Steps If You Want to Apply to Amazon

Action plan time—because “I’ll do it later” is how three years disappear.

1. Check local openings on Amazon’s jobs site
   • Filter for warehouse / fulfillment / sortation roles first
2. Get your paperwork ready
   • ID, resume, any certifications, education proof (if required)
3. Practice your story
   • What the conviction was
   • How long ago
   • What you’ve done since
4. Apply online
   • Complete any assessments
   • Watch your email/texts for orientation or background check info
5. If you’re denied because of your record:
   • Request your background report
   • Check for mistakes
   • Dispute anything that’s wrong

If you want more specific help, tell me:

• Your state
• The charge
• How long ago it happened
• The type of Amazon job you’re aiming for

and I can help you shape a strategy—and even a sample explanation—you can actually use when you apply.