Employment Opportunities for Ex-offenders: An Employers’ Perspective on Hiring and Retaining Exoffenders
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.
Employment Opportunities for Ex-offenders: An Employers’ Perspective on Hiring and Retaining Exoffenders
CSU 284A
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.
Recommended Citation
Leonard, Sahara. "Employment Opportunities for Ex-offenders: An Employers’ Perspective on Hiring and Retaining Exoffenders." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 4, 2011.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2011/oral-session-09/4
