Human rights activists held an event Friday to help former inmates know what their rights are.

The "Reclaim the Hope" event was held at the NYC Commission on Human Rights. Panelist Andre Ward, an adjunct professor at Medger Evers College, is a former inmate who was released from prison in 2009. He is hoping to educate men and women about the Fair Chance Act, which was passed last year.

"People are being released from prison and are being discriminated against simply because they have criminal justice involvement," says Ward.

By law, employers can't ask you to disclose your criminal history before being offered the job. Human rights specialist William Whitaker says if an employer can prove a direct conflict then it's possible that a person may not get the job. He says, for example, if a person robbed a bank then they can't work in a bank.

The event also featured several organizations offering services like resume development, job training and interviewing skills.