21: Creation of Employment Opportunities
Promote, where appropriate, the employment of people released from prison and jail, and facilitate the creation of job opportunities for this population that will benefit communities.
Overview
Policymakers can increase the pool employers that will hire people released from prison and jail by examining employment barriers and eliminating those that have no real bearing on public safety. Further, businesses that do not currently employ significant numbers of people after their incarceration need to be educated about support available to employers who hire released individuals, including government financial incentives, third-party intermediaries, and community corrections supervision.
Research Highlights
-
There are barriers at the individual level that impede released individuals' efforts to secure and maintain employment.
-
Many of the communities that receive released individuals are ill prepared to absorb those with low employability.
-
Most employers are hesitant to hire released individuals.
-
The willingness of employers to hire this population can be increased if a third-party intermediary is involved and if they are informed about financial incentives and protections.
Recommendations
-
Educate employers about financial incentives, such as the Federal Bonding Program, Work Opportunity Tax Credit, Welfare-to-Work programs, and first-source agreements, which make a person who was released from prison a more appealing prospective employ
-
Determine which industries and employers are willing to hire people with criminal records and encourage job development and placement in those sectors.
-
Review employment laws that affect the employment of people based on criminal history, and eliminate those provisions that are not directly linked to improving public safety.
-
Promote individualized decisions about hiring instead of blanket bans and provide documented means for people with convictions to demonstrate rehabilitation.
-
Use community corrections officers and third-party intermediaries to assist employers with the supervision and management of people released from prison or jail.
-
Identify community service opportunities and internships for people released from prison or jail who cannot find work so that they can acquire real work experience and on-the-job training.
Related Policy Statements
Our Publications
Homelessness and Prisoner Reentry
Many people released from prison or jail are at risk for homelessness, which can increase the likelihood that they will commit new crimes and return to prison.
Related Information
Issue Area:
Education and Employment
Special Project:
Sex Offenders
Program Example:
California: Ex-Felon Employment Initiative
San Francisco District Attorney’s Office and National Economic Development and Law Center