Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Federal Bonding Program

The Federal Bonding Program is administered by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and is available at no cost to the job seeker or employer. Job seekers who have in the past committed a crime, which cast doubt upon their credibility or honesty, often experience barriers to gaining employment. Ex-offenders are routinely classified as “at risk” job applicants and employers view these applicants as being potentially untrustworthy workers. As a result, ex-offender job applicants are routinely denied employment.

The U.S. Department of Labor (U.S. DOL) sought a means of eliminating bonding as a barrier to employment as to ease employer concerns that at risk job applicants would be untrustworthy workers. In 1966, the U.S. Department of Labor created the Federal Bonding Program (FBP) covering anyone who was at risk and formerly classified as NOT BONDABLE. In August 1998, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction was authorized by the National Director of the Federal Bonding Program to manage the program for Ohio.

Ohio’s eligibility criteria:

• Employment must be full-time for which payroll taxes are deducted
• The individual’s criminal history must be verifiable
• The individual is not self-employed or on a personal service contract

Bonding coverage is effective on the individual’s first day of work, therefore the request must occur prior to or no later than the first day of employment. The Fidelity Bond is effective for six (6) months with a minimum coverage amount of $5000. Bonding amounts may be available in higher amounts and increments are determined on a case by case basis. In order to ensure that job seekers and employers are able to utilize the bond to full capacity, bonds are not written until an offer of employment has been made.

To obtain information or to initiate the bonding process please contact the Bureau of Quality & Community Partnerships at 614-728-1534.