If you have experience in the retail field, you may have considered applying for a job with Amazon. But does Amazon hire felons? Well, lucky for you, we wanted to know the answer, too!
We reached out to Amazon to ask them directly about their hiring policy for former felons. We are sad to say that we were unable to make contact with Amazon. However, we will continue trying!
In the meantime, we’ve researched them to see what we could find. Why? Successful Release’s sole purpose is to help former felons get back on their feet. The majority of us also have criminal records, so we have a little experience in this area.
Here are some important questions we will answer to make the search easier for you:
- Does Amazon hire felons?
- What is Amazon’s hiring policy?
- Does Amazon hire people with misdemeanors?
- Does Amazon do background checks?
- How to get hired at Amazon with a felony
Does Amazon hire felons?

Official company policy for hiring felons
We didn’t find a specific hiring policy for felons, but from the information we found on Amazon.com, it appears their policies differ on a case-by-case basis. We will cover this more in an upcoming section.
Has Amazon hired felons in the past?
When researching to see if Amazon has previously hired people with felonies, there were a lot of conflicting answers. Some say yes while others say no.
We are going to continue digging to see how to get a job at Amazon with a felony, so read on!
Does Amazon hire people with misdemeanors?
Unfortunately, we were unable to find an easy yes or no to this question. We would recommend that you stay positive and apply with your best effort.
Is Amazon on the Ban the Box List?
Amazon is not on the Ban the Box list.
Ban the Box was designed by civil rights groups and those who speak on behalf of former offenders. The goal is to convince employers to remove all questions on applications about criminal records to give people with records a fair chance at getting a job they’re qualified for.
The Fair Chance Business Pledge is an agreement made by companies that have volunteered to commit to fair hiring practices for everyone, including former felons.
Don’t forget: A company doesn’t have to support these initiatives in order to hire former offenders.
Does Amazon have special programs for hiring felons?
They don’t, but let’s keep reading to see how to get a job at Amazon with a felony.
What are the odds someone with a felony will get hired?

The odds of getting hired at Amazon with a felony are uncertain. Our research provided conflicting answers about getting hired here with a felony conviction.
There are some positions at Amazon that don’t require an interview, though. So maybe those jobs will be easier to grab for people with records
What are some entry-level jobs?
Amazon has many entry-level jobs to choose from. Let’s take a look at a few:
- Warehouse/Shopper Team Member — Work inside an Amazon warehouse selecting, packing and shipping customer orders. This position doesn’t require a resume or an interview!
- Seasonal Delivery Associate — Delivers packages to homes and other locations.
Both of these positions require a high school diploma or a GED, so keep that in mind!
Some of the other jobs they consider entry-level require a bachelor’s degree. With locations throughout the world, you really have to look at each job individually to see the requirements. They do offer part-time and seasonal jobs, so this may be an excellent way to get your foot in the door and show them your abilities.
How to get hired at Amazon with a felony
Amazon really helps you in knowing what to expect in their hiring process. They have an entire section that maps out their procedures step-by-step. Be sure you look this over! It’s very important that you know ahead of time what they will expect of you.
One of the best ways to stand out is with a great cover letter. Amazon requests a cover letter with your resume, although it’s not required — but we suggest having one! The secret to a great cover letter is selling your skills and showing your interest in the position you’re applying to.
Your next step is using our tips for sprucing up your resume. Be sure to include skills you learned or used while incarcerated. For example: The canteen job you had means you helped with inventory and unloading trucks. These skills are relevant to jobs in the free world as well!
Amazon states that their applications and interviews will differ from position-to-position. We know that there will be a few things that won’t change, however, such as how important their customers are and their hunt for leaders.
Assessments are also used to get a feel for your work style. They are meant to be taken without deep thought in order to give a natural answer.
Amazon uses behavioral interviewing in both the phone and in person interviews. This method of interviewing is basically a way for you to explain a past situation or challenge, and how you overcame it. A good example of behavioral interviewing would be your felony conviction. By explaining the situation and how you have overcome your past mistakes gives them insight to what kind of person you are, how you overcame it and also gives them knowledge of your felony conviction.
As a former felon, this is also a great way to break the ice about your conviction!
Does Amazon do background checks?
Yes, Amazon does background checks.
Something to keep in mind regarding background checks:
There are many states that now only look at an offense if it’s less than seven years old. Here is a list of those states:
- California
- Colorado
- Kansas
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New York
- Texas
- Washington
The eight states listed below show only guilty convictions:
- Alaska
- California
- Hawaii
- Indiana (limited check)
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New York
Unfortunately, there are some states that still look at everything. The following are those states:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- DC
- Delaware
- Florida
- Idaho
- Indiana (extensive check)
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Company ratings
Amazon’s reviews on glassdoor.com rated them with 3.8 out of 5 stars. Amazon was given their high ranking for being a fun place to work with great pay and benefits.
What felony convictions might have a hard time getting hired here?
Remember we told you Amazon hires on a case by case basis? Well, Amazon provides insight into what convictions might have a hard time getting hired.They are as follows:
- Theft — Amazon houses products from third parties, so they have to be able to protect it from damage and theft.
- Identity theft/fraudulent use of a credit card — Certain positions have access to personal data such as credit card information.
- Any violent or harassment charges — This is looked at closely for all roles, especially those involving interaction with customers.
- Any driving offense — If you are looking at a delivery position, you’ll have a harder time landing a job with these working against you.
Does Amazon drug test?
Yes. Not only does Amazon do a pre-employment drug screen, they also perform random drug screens as well.
Have you applied for a job or worked here? Share your experiences!
What do you know about getting a job at Amazon with a felony? Please let us know.
Hi Kristin
Glad I found your site. One of the issues I have is trying to get a great job with a felon hanging over me. I am originally from NC but have moved often the last state being CA. Although it’s been more than 10 years since iv committed any crime Amazon is the place I’d like to work. I just returned from the field from missions in Fiji Island so it’s been awhile for a full time job. Please connect me with any resources if your willing, that you may have to offer.
I worked for Amazon one Christmas season and I had drug convictions, I was upfront from the beginning. I wrote a letter telling my story and was hired.
My friend has a record and it’s a misdemeanor for simple assault.. he was up front bout and now his background is under review. He lives in Pennsylvania
I applied for a job. Went to the on boarding and drug test. Indicated that I was a felon. For weeks I received numerous emails from Amazon, then they stopped. Never received a call or email indicating I wasn’t hired. Assume my record didn’t allow my hire but it would have been nice to know either way. Did 4 years for property crimes.