Getting a job in early recovery in Orange County

Your rights if you have a record

California's Fair Chance Act (Government Code § 12952) applies to employers with 5 or more employees.

• No questions before an offer. Applications and interviews can't ask about convictions before a conditional offer.
• Some records are off-limits at any stage: arrests that didn't lead to a conviction, referral to or participation in a diversion program, and sealed, dismissed, or expunged convictions.
• After an offer, if the employer wants to withdraw it because of your record, it must:
  1. Do an individualized assessment of the specific conviction, how long ago it was, and how it relates to the job.
  2. Give you written notice and a copy of any report.
  3. Give you 5 business days to respond with evidence of rehabilitation or to dispute the report.
  4. Tell you the final decision in writing.

To report a violation, contact the California Civil Rights Department.

Clearing your record in Orange County

The Orange County Public Defender's Clean Slate program helps people ask the court to dismiss eligible convictions.

• One application covers all of your Orange County cases.
• There's no court fee.
• A dismissal helps with most private job applications, but it doesn't restore gun rights, end sex offender registration, or erase restitution you owe.

Start at ocpubdef.gov.

Recovery and your job

• You don't have to disclose recovery. It's medical information.
• People in recovery who aren't using illegal drugs are protected from discrimination under the ADA (15+ employees) and California's FEHA (5+ employees).
• Need time for treatment? See FMLA and drug rehab in California.

Timing work with treatment

If you're in	Typical time commitment	Work that fits
PHP	Most of the weekday	Usually not yet; focus on treatment
IOP	At least 9 hours a week, often 3 hours a day, 3–5 days a week	Part-time or a shift opposite your program's track
Outpatient	Under 9 hours a week	Full-time, with appointments scheduled around it

Pick a morning IOP track if you want to work evenings, and the other way around.

Getting around without a car

OC Bus routes that serve District areas:

Route	Runs	Useful for
529 (OC Bus Rapid)	Beach Blvd, Fullerton to the coast, about every 24–30 minutes, 6 a.m.–6 p.m.	Orange County (West) and Orange County (North) to Garden Grove, Knott's Berry Farm, and Fullerton
29 / 29A	Beach Blvd, Buena Park to the coast	Same corridor outside rapid-bus hours
560 (OC Bus Rapid)	17th St corridor, Long Beach to central Orange County, about every 24 minutes, 6 a.m.–6:30 p.m.	Orange County (North) and Orange County (East) to Little Saigon, Santa Ana College, and the county civic center
64	Bolsa Ave / 1st St, the coast to Tustin	Orange County (West) and Orange County (North) to Orange County (East)
70	Edinger Ave, Sunset Beach to Tustin	Orange County (West) and Orange County (Central) to Orange County (East) and Tustin
76	Talbert Ave / MacArthur Blvd, the coast to John Wayne Airport	Orange County (West) and Orange County (Central) to the airport-area business district

The county's main hub, the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center, connects OC Bus (including route 560) to Metrolink (Orange County and Inland Empire-Orange County lines) and Amtrak, for jobs in Irvine, Anaheim, or Los Angeles.

Routes from OCTA's bus book effective August 9, 2026. Check octa.net for current times.

Where to look

• CalJOBS (caljobs.ca.gov): California's free job board and job center listings.
• Your treatment program. Many have vocational counselors or employer contacts.
• Your meetings. People in recovery often hire people in recovery.
• Fair-chance employers. Many large retailers, restaurants, and logistics companies in Orange County hire people with records. Ask directly.

How The District fits

District homes are in all four Orange County areas (West, Central, North, and East), all on or near the bus corridors above. Ask admissions about work or school expectations and any job-search support the house offers. Admissions answers 24/7.