Study examines impact of race, gender, and the stigma of a criminal conviction on employment
Employers are allowed to ask applicants on job applications if they have been convicted of a crime. New research from the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice suggests eliminating that question would go a long way toward ensuring that those convicted of crime are able to secure jobs upon their release from prison.
A new study by ASU professors Scott Decker and Cassia Spohn published in the National Institute of Justice’s June 2014 Research Report Digest, suggests that those serving time need to be properly prepared to re-enter the job market. That includes being shown how to create resumes and apply for jobs online before their release from prison. They also recommend that former prisoners need to expand their network of contacts to increase their likelihood of employment; better understand the modern job application process; and be prepared to handle an overwhelming amount of rejection when applying for jobs.
Those recommendations are based on a three-year study in which Decker and Spohn tested how employers responded to individuals applying for low-skill jobs online and in-person. More than 6,000 online applications were submitted using 12 different resumes reflecting ethnicity, gender, education and time served in prison. Another 60 jobs were applied for in-person using six men and six women reflecting the same characteristics. A survey was also conducted of the employers where applications had been submitted in-person.
Decker and Spohn found blacks and Hispanics fared more poorly than whites when applying for jobs. Having a prison record also proved to have a dampening effect on job prospects, especially in the food service sector, a likely place of employment for those seeking reentry to the workforce. The employer survey found a preference for hiring individuals who have not been involved with the criminal justice system. Employers associated tardiness and an inability to get along with co-workers with those who served time in prison.