Viable job prospects can be few and far between for people returning to the community from prison or jail, even for those that have benefited from the programming discussed in Policy Statement 15 (Education and Vocational Training) and Policy Statement 16 (Work Experience). The opportunities that do exist are limited further by laws, regulations, or policies that prohibit or discourage employers from hiring people with criminal records. Policymakers can increase the pool of potential employers by examining these 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.

Recommendations:

1.

There are barriers at the individual level that impede released individuals' efforts to secure and maintain employment.

A.

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

B.

Determine which industries and employers are willing to hire people with criminal records and encourage job development and placement in those sectors.

2.

Many of the communities that receive released individuals are ill prepared to absorb those with low employability.

C.

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.

3.

Most employers are hesitant to hire released individuals.

4.

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.

D.

Promote individualized decisions about hiring instead of blanket bans and provide documented means for people with convictions to demonstrate rehabilitation.

E.

Use community corrections officers and third-party intermediaries to assist employers with the supervision and management of people released from prison or jail.

F.

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.