. >> black men like brian pearson, where incarceration was a way of life. >> i won't say this but one in three of my friends are locked up. >> broke and homeless after getting out pearson found work in one of the few industries open to hiring ex offenders, construction. 179. this is my job site right now. >> as a construction worker pearson makes about $25 an hour. showing up early, staying late to prove he's worthy. >> you can count on whether it is the third chance or fourth chance you can count on someone to do the right thing if given a chance. only if given a chance. >> research has shown that employees with criminal backgrounds are only slightly more productive than those without records. only eight weeks on the job pearson has already played an impression on his boss. >> if you didn't tell me ryan had a previous criminal record i would never have known, i think he's going to go far in this business. >> he's the exception not the norm. more accepting of criminal background tend to be low wage jobs with few benefits. >> those are not careers and those are not things that help peo