Formerly incarcerated people need stable jobs for the same reasons as everyone else: to support themselves and their loved ones, pursue life goals, and strengthen their communities. Prior research suggests that employers discriminate against those with criminal records, even if they claim not to. Although employers express willingness to hire people with criminal records, evidence shows that having a record reduces employer callback rates by 50%. What employers say appears to contradict what they actually do when it comes to hiring decisions. In our podcast we interviewed a formerly incarcerated African American male, who described his experience reintegrating into society post-release.

If you enjoyed our podcast and would like to learn more, information on incarceration and release can be found at the websites below:

https://www.themarshallproject.org (This is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that seeks to create and sustain a sense of national urgency about the U.S. criminal justice system. They share real-life stories of formerly incarcerated individuals.)

https://www.prisonpolicy.org (This is a non-profit, non-partisan Prison Policy Initiative that produces cutting edge research to expose the broader harm of mass criminalization, and then sparks advocacy campaigns to create a more just society.)

https://www.prisonactivist.org/about ( PARC is a prison abolitionist group based on Oakland, California committed to exposing and challenging the institutionalized racism, sexism, ableism, heterosexism, and classism of the Prison Industrial Complex.)

https://www.usa.gov/state-government/new-york (If you live in New York State and would like to reach out to the government, more contact information can be found here.)

References: 

Couloute, L., Kopf, D. (2018). Out of Prison & Out of Work: Unemployment Among Formerly

Incarcerated People. Prison Policy Initiative. Retrieved from https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/outofwork.html

Decker, S. H., Spohn, C., Ortiz, N. R. (2014). Criminal Stigma, Race, Gender, and Employment:

An Expanded Assessment of the Consequences of Imprisonment for Employment. National Institute of Justice. Retrieved from http://thecrimereport.s3.amazonaws.com/2/fb/e/2362/criminal_stigma_race_crime_and_unemployment.pdf

DiGregorio, Z. (2017). Criminal Records and Unemployment: The Impact on the Economy.

University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved from https://publicpolicy.wharton.upenn.edu/live/news/2071-criminal-records-and-unemployment-the-impact-on