Event Title

Employment Opportunities for Ex-offenders: An Employers’ Perspective on Hiring and Retaining Exoffenders

Presenter Information

Sahara Leonard, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Location

CSU 284A

Start Date

4-4-2011 1:30 PM

End Date

4-4-2011 3:00 PM

Student's Major

Sociology and Corrections

Student's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Mentor's Name

Sherrise Truesdale-Moore

Mentor's Department

Sociology and Corrections

Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Description

Research has shown that there is a correlation between low employment rates and very high recidivism rates observed among inmates released from prison (Martin, Hernandez Hernandez-Fernaud, Hernandez, 2010). Strategies for improving employability of ex-offenders include providing ex-offenders with basic education and job-specific training, assisting in identifying potential employment opportunities, and eliminating de jure and de facto employment discrimination against ex-offenders. Further, if reentry employment programs work, it will benefit not only ex-offenders but society at large--a smart societal investment (Martin, Hernandez & Hernandez-Fernaud, Hernandez, 2010). For this study, a convenient sample of fourteen employment agencies was surveyed in Minneapolis, Minnesota to examine several issues: 1) characteristics and demographics of exoffenders, 2) barriers to locating employment for exoffenders, 3) hiring practices and policies of employers, and 4) job performance and retention of exoffenders. The respondents in this study were employment agencies who assist exoffenders in locating employment. These agencies were solicited and selected from a directory provided by the Minnesota Department of Corrections and the Minnesota Department of Labor.