Resource Library Analysis

One of the main barriers that inmates face when they are released from prison is limited cognitive skills, limited education and work experience, and substance abuse or other mental health problems. Substance abuse and other mental health problems limit employability because it limits the job readiness that is required for employment (Holzer, Raphael & Stoll, 2003). Another issue that is faced when inmates are released into society is that any skills that they did have prior to conviction has diminished greatly and they face lower pay due to their diminished or lack of skills, and the attitudes that have been developed during their time in prison deeply affects their attitude during their search for employment. Offenders also face another barrier when searching for employment. Many businesses can be held legally liable for any criminal action that their employees may cause (Holzer, Raphael & Stoll, 2003). These barriers that offenders face upon release is why solid solutions and planning must be implemented when considering the integration of ex-felons into society and preparation for reentry must begin well before the scheduled release date in order to successfully reintegrate an inmate into society and reduce the rate of recidivism.

One of the primary problems in Kentucky is the unemployment rate of people with criminal backgrounds that caused the use of 'ban the box’ by employers in all but one city in Kentucky and among many other states. Former inmates often face restrictions in different situations that may include housing, voting and employment (Hoskins, 2014). The problem does not affect only those people in Kentucky, but also other states in the United States and even in other countries. The majority of the employers show reluctance to absorb people who have criminal records. Some of the studies show that more than half of the employers will discriminate an individual due to their incarceration records (NIJ, 2013). Even in a situation that they find employment,

"Local faith-based and community organizations (FBCO) reentry programs can provide ex-prisoners with the compassion and services they need to thrive in the communities they are returning to. Placing ex-prisoners in steady employment that matches their abilities and needs is an important effort that helps ensure the safety of America’s streets and the successful integration of ex-prisoners into America’s communities. Recidivism is a vicious cycle of crime, prison, more crime, re-imprisonment, and so on. Statistics show that more than two-thirds of released prisoners will be charged with new crimes within three years following their release, and over half will be reincarcerated. According to criminal justice experts, an attachment to the labor force through stable employment, in concert with family and community

Many people living in poor neighborhoods might have been to prison, have had little to no education, or even health problems. There are over six million ex-convicts in the United States. Research proposes that the best way for them to stay out of prison again is to reintroduce them into the working world and finding them jobs, but most employers are hesitant in giving them a chance. With an unemployment rate approaching its highest, getting employed is challenging. If someone has been in prison, the chance of them getting a job decreases drastically. In chapter five of David K. Shipler’s The Working Poor: Invisible in America, Shipler emphasizes on attaining a job, maintaining a job, and living while employed to successfully construct his arguments

Incarceration has been the primary means of punishment for criminals who have been convicted of felony offenses. While prisoners are serving the term of incarceration they face many difficult situations. Some of these situations can include committing new crimes within the system which could lead to prolonging the current sentencing. Those who are able to make parole after meeting the requirements set in place by the court are faced with new difficulties when trying to reintegrate in society. While inmates complete sentences ordered by the court, they have the opportunity to take advantage of Federal Aid including continued education, job skill training, employment opportunities and support programs. These programs are designed to lessen the struggle offenders’ face as they reintegrate into society by offering a positive direction upon their release. The overall goal is to achieve a reduction in the rate of recidivism.

When facing discrimination in housing, jobs and overall welfare, there are little opportunities given to people recently released from prison. This causes them to go back to the life of crime, and ultimately back in prison. This features as an effect of mass incarceration and works to fuel it. According to the Bureau of Justice statistics, “ 2 out of every 3 prisoners released will be rearrested within 3 years and nearly half of those released from prison will be incarcerated again within 3 years”(Dennis Madden 14). This effect of mass incarceration limits ex-cons from reaching any pursuits and keeps them trapped in a system that continues to disadvantage them. Craig Nissan elaborates on the severity of this issue, saying, “[Ex-convicts] are labelled for life as felons, who will face forever discrimination in seeking essentials like employment and housing, basic to building a good life. Moreover, many face a life of monitoring as ex-cons and the loss of many civil rights, including the right to vote”(205). These people turn into victims of our society and lack any chances to reach

Of the roughly seven hundred thousand individuals released from prison each year, a large majority are young men with less than a college education (Pager, Western & Sugie, 2009). Of these former

Of these inmates 60, 35 men and 25 women. The experiment assured that the research was representative. The participants in this study originally resided in one female prison and 5 prisons of North Carolina. All Inmates were high custody prisons serving high risk offenders (Stevens & Ward, 1997, p.108). The treatment group were those who did not have any college degree when they were convicted, sent to prison, and earned a degree prior to be released. The college degree in this study includes a one-year college certificate, an associate’s degree, or a bachelor’s degree. The comparison group were those who held a high school diploma or did not have any education while incarcerated. After the participants were released, they were tracked for a three-year period (Kim & Clark, 2013, p. 199). The participants were sent to search for jobs. The study took into consideration who had more opportunity to find a job, and the reasons the employers considered before hiring or not hiring the individual. The study also collected employer’s information about the individual’s performance at work. The expert kept tracking the recidivism’s rate among the participants. The recidivism rate was measured by any arrest for a crime occurring within the three-year period (Kim & Clark, 2013, p. 199). Finally, the researchers compared the records of inmates who completed a degree with the inmates who earned a HSD/GED or did not completed any program at

There are more reasons why its hard for recently released prisoners to find a job including the stigma that goes along with being a convicted offender. “There are several reasons why incarceration reduces the employability and subsequent earning potential of released inmates. First, the stigma attached to incarceration makes it difficult for ex-prisoners to be hired. Employers are reluctant to hire individuals with a criminal record, because it signals that they may not be trustworthy. A survey of employers in five major cities across the country revealed that two-thirds of all employers

After releasing probationers and parolees, the key to achieve supervision and to reduce recidivism is employment. The link between unemployment and crime is a major risk for a risk factor. The reciprocity of crime and unemployment has been studied by many researchers. According to the authors “prison is a cycle; they commit serious crimes, are arrested and incarcerated, serve their time in prison, are released, commit new crimes, and are arrested and re-incarcerated (Kethineni, & Falcone, 2007, p.36). The role of employability is particularly important in ex-offenders’ efforts to avoid recidivism. There one assumption that states that persons who value employment would be reluctant to engage in criminal behavior. The stigma of having a criminal record effects the offender’s opportunities while trying to obtain a job.

Sending someone to prison is meant to interrupt their criminal activity but in doing so it also disrupts their positive life building activities as well (Apel & Sweeten 2010: 448). Being previously incarcerated has a negative impact on future job possibilities (Schmitt & Warner 2011: 92). Being previously incarcerated makes one notably less employable and significantly lowers employment opportunities (Schmitt & Warner 2011: 87). This is due to the fact that being in prison decreases the time spent in the work place, diminishing on-the-job experience and soft skills such as communication, people skills, and punctuality (Schmitt & Warner 2011: 93). They may also lack job interview skills, or the skills and confidence to continue their job search if their first attempts do not prove to be successful (Harley, 2014: 15). Along with this, being incarcerated can also cause one to gain less likeable qualities such as being confrontational and aggressive and have problems with authority (Apel & Sweeten 2010: 451). Being previously incarcerated makes obtaining employment harder for those already vulnerable with less job skills

Once people are release from prison and are thrown back to society, they are thrown back so they can fail and get arrested again. They have no money, no job, nor housing, and being put on the streets to fence for themselves, many of the ones released on parole must get and maintain a job, otherwise they will be rearrested and thrown back to prison (Alexander, 148). Getting a job or housing is hard because they are viewed as criminals and must check of the “felon” box on an application and not everyone is will to give criminals a job or housing.

Some inmates are fortunate enough to be released to families who are expecting their return and are willing to help support them until they get back on their feet, which is one less barrier that they need to overcome. However, some are returned to the community with no one to help look after them or provide them with a home or monetary relief until they find a job. Which continues to add to preexisting barriers that offenders already face. When prisoners are released into the community in similar terms like these, they are left to be their own support system. At this point the offender must look for a place to live and a job to supply for their necessities. But when someone has a criminal record employers in most states can deny jobs to people who were arrested, but never convicted of a crime. (After Prison: Roadblocks To Reentry, 2004, p. 10). When states allow employers to ask about prior arrests and convictions that limits the ability for offenders to gain employment. In the United States there are 37 states that allow employers to ask about their criminal background even if the applicant was not convicted. And then there are 10

The purpose of this quantitative research is to determine if a person’s criminal history has any consequences on job opportunities. This research will study the relationship between incarceration and employment outcomes, to determine if there is a direct link between the two. Researchers used the longitudinal survey method to study the job probabilities and income of individuals after release from prison and found a strong and coherent negative effect of incarceration (Western & Beckett, 2007). Some employers are prohibited by law to hire someone with a criminal history (Peck & Theodore, 2009).

This paper explores the benefits provided by educational programs in jails and prisons. Included are the reasons inmates need education in order to successfully reenter society once they are released and use the knowledge and skills they have learned to obtain a job in order to support themselves and their families. Also examined in the paper are the financial benefits of incorporating educational programs instead of cutting them, as well as the effect these programs play on the recidivism rate. Lastly is a focus on understanding the importance of education and job training, even though the recipients are criminals.