Background
As an estimated 1 in 3 Americans have a criminal record, the stigmas associated with past deviant behavior inevitably influence employment opportunities for stated individuals (Ciaravolo, 2011). According to labeling theory, the labels we assign people ultimately influence our interactions and perceptions of them. Labeling theory also suggests the social reaction to primary deviance, an individual's first offense, often contributes to secondary deviance, or reoffending, as the individual internalizes the presented stigmas (Breen, 2011). Recidivism, or the act of reoffending, presents a cycle of crime as discrimination, stigmatization, and lack of reintegration support act as contributing factors (Denver, 2020). In response to these factors, as well as other challenges such as poverty and lack of social support, 1 in 4 Americans will be re- incarcerated again within the same year (Sawyer & Wagner, 2020). In recent years, scholars and policymakers have begun to understand and attempt to address these hurdles.
Some of the efforts to assist formerly incarcerated individuals with their return to society have focused on assisting with employment by limiting discrimination in the hiring process. There have been mixed results of the procedures, following and contrasting the intentions of such laws. Although Ban-the-Box laws exist to limit employers’ ability to inquire about a criminal record during an initial application, there have been unintended consequences of the legislation. According to previous studies, employers began to rely on race to avoid hiring individuals with criminal histories (Raphael, 2020). The studies found employers use race as an inferential factor given crime often associates with racial minorities (Nakamura, 2017). Other studies have found the implementation of Ban-the-Box laws relies on the limitations of the social stigma of a criminal record and the failure of ex-offenders to find employment (D’Alessio et al., 2014). Accordingly, studies suggest employers look past the mere presence of a criminal record in the event that they have do not have access to such information (Uggen et al., 2014). The inconsistent results of Ban-the-Box laws encourage a need for an efficient understanding of how employers may label individuals with a criminal record. In turn, this can lead to the development of an effective and fair way to present the job applications of individuals who have been arrested.
Our previous work in this area, completed through the STAR Program, focused on gathering data on how the experiences of formerly incarcerated people are perceived in a community. The survey we developed examined the perspectives of three unique groups of North Philadelphia residents, consisting of university students, church members, and formerly incarcerated individuals. The study recorded their judgements of crime, recidivism, and employment suitability of formerly incarcerated individuals. We found students had positive attitudes toward individuals with criminal histories, church members had the lowest expectationsof recidivism, and previously incarcerated individuals had lower perceptions of employment opportunities for formerly convicted individuals.I have continued to advance this work with Dr. Hyatt through an independent study course, examining employers’ judgments of redemption, attitudes toward a criminal background check, and perceptions of a formerly incarcerated individual’s disclosure of rehabilitative credentials. The unique survey developed for the project will be put into the field in the coming weeks. I hope to learn of employer perceptions regarding formal declarations of redemption and how it may influence their attitudes concerning the utility of criminal background checks. Following the study, Dr. Hyatt and I expect to complete a manuscript using these data in the coming months.
Project Overview
The next phase of this project will build on our current foundation by allowing us to gather qualitative interview data from employers and individuals with a criminal record who have sought a job. In addition, we will better understand the survey data and identify new area of inquiry. The qualitative approach of the proposed project will record the experiences of employers and formerly incarcerated individuals as it pertains to redemption, criminal background checks, and rehabilitative credentials. The Undergraduate Research & Enrichment Programs will contribute to our research efforts as it provides the necessary support to continue my studies with Dr. Hyatt, and eventually establish a community-facing event.
Timeline
During the first three weeks of the term, I will complete an in-depth literature review and begin to draft the interview questions. In addition to regularly meeting with Dr. Hyatt, I will also meet with leading scholars in this area (e.g., Lageson, Uggen). I will revise and finalize the interview questions and protocol during week 4, and I will administer the interviews during weeks 5 through 7. Then, I will analyze the data during weeks 8 through 10. And I will create my preliminary deliverables, including a project report and executive summary, and establish the next steps for my project with Dr. Hyatt during weeks 9 and 10.
Professional Impact
As I hold a professional goal to ameliorate employment opportunities for previously incarcerated individuals, the study will identify the problem based on the experiences and perceptions of both employers and formerly incarcerated individuals in Philadelphia, PA. I will examine the ways employers perceive applicants with criminal histories and the attitudes formerly incarcerated individuals hold toward employment. My goal of the study is to determine and suggest an effective way for individuals with a criminal background to present their applications while disassociating from the stigmas that may often hinder their ability to find employment. The funds from the undergraduate research mini-grant, in addition to my participation in the STAR
program and independent research study, will allow me to continue active research with Dr. Hyatt and, eventually, to produce a project to assist individuals with criminal backgrounds.
As an estimated 1 in 3 Americans have a criminal record, the stigmas associated with past deviant behavior inevitably influence employment opportunities for stated individuals (Ciaravolo, 2011). According to labeling theory, the labels we assign people ultimately influence our interactions and perceptions of them. Labeling theory also suggests the social reaction to primary deviance, an individual's first offense, often contributes to secondary deviance, or reoffending, as the individual internalizes the presented stigmas (Breen, 2011). Recidivism, or the act of reoffending, presents a cycle of crime as discrimination, stigmatization, and lack of reintegration support act as contributing factors (Denver, 2020). In response to these factors, as well as other challenges such as poverty and lack of social support, 1 in 4 Americans will be re- incarcerated again within the same year (Sawyer & Wagner, 2020). In recent years, scholars and policymakers have begun to understand and attempt to address these hurdles.
Some of the efforts to assist formerly incarcerated individuals with their return to society have focused on assisting with employment by limiting discrimination in the hiring process. There have been mixed results of the procedures, following and contrasting the intentions of such laws. Although Ban-the-Box laws exist to limit employers’ ability to inquire about a criminal record during an initial application, there have been unintended consequences of the legislation. According to previous studies, employers began to rely on race to avoid hiring individuals with criminal histories (Raphael, 2020). The studies found employers use race as an inferential factor given crime often associates with racial minorities (Nakamura, 2017). Other studies have found the implementation of Ban-the-Box laws relies on the limitations of the social stigma of a criminal record and the failure of ex-offenders to find employment (D’Alessio et al., 2014). Accordingly, studies suggest employers look past the mere presence of a criminal record in the event that they have do not have access to such information (Uggen et al., 2014). The inconsistent results of Ban-the-Box laws encourage a need for an efficient understanding of how employers may label individuals with a criminal record. In turn, this can lead to the development of an effective and fair way to present the job applications of individuals who have been arrested.
Our previous work in this area, completed through the STAR Program, focused on gathering data on how the experiences of formerly incarcerated people are perceived in a community. The survey we developed examined the perspectives of three unique groups of North Philadelphia residents, consisting of university students, church members, and formerly incarcerated individuals. The study recorded their judgements of crime, recidivism, and employment suitability of formerly incarcerated individuals. We found students had positive attitudes toward individuals with criminal histories, church members had the lowest expectationsof recidivism, and previously incarcerated individuals had lower perceptions of employment opportunities for formerly convicted individuals.I have continued to advance this work with Dr. Hyatt through an independent study course, examining employers’ judgments of redemption, attitudes toward a criminal background check, and perceptions of a formerly incarcerated individual’s disclosure of rehabilitative credentials. The unique survey developed for the project will be put into the field in the coming weeks. I hope to learn of employer perceptions regarding formal declarations of redemption and how it may influence their attitudes concerning the utility of criminal background checks. Following the study, Dr. Hyatt and I expect to complete a manuscript using these data in the coming months.
Project Overview
The next phase of this project will build on our current foundation by allowing us to gather qualitative interview data from employers and individuals with a criminal record who have sought a job. In addition, we will better understand the survey data and identify new area of inquiry. The qualitative approach of the proposed project will record the experiences of employers and formerly incarcerated individuals as it pertains to redemption, criminal background checks, and rehabilitative credentials. The Undergraduate Research & Enrichment Programs will contribute to our research efforts as it provides the necessary support to continue my studies with Dr. Hyatt, and eventually establish a community-facing event.
Timeline
During the first three weeks of the term, I will complete an in-depth literature review and begin to draft the interview questions. In addition to regularly meeting with Dr. Hyatt, I will also meet with leading scholars in this area (e.g., Lageson, Uggen). I will revise and finalize the interview questions and protocol during week 4, and I will administer the interviews during weeks 5 through 7. Then, I will analyze the data during weeks 8 through 10. And I will create my preliminary deliverables, including a project report and executive summary, and establish the next steps for my project with Dr. Hyatt during weeks 9 and 10.
Professional Impact
As I hold a professional goal to ameliorate employment opportunities for previously incarcerated individuals, the study will identify the problem based on the experiences and perceptions of both employers and formerly incarcerated individuals in Philadelphia, PA. I will examine the ways employers perceive applicants with criminal histories and the attitudes formerly incarcerated individuals hold toward employment. My goal of the study is to determine and suggest an effective way for individuals with a criminal background to present their applications while disassociating from the stigmas that may often hinder their ability to find employment. The funds from the undergraduate research mini-grant, in addition to my participation in the STAR
program and independent research study, will allow me to continue active research with Dr. Hyatt and, eventually, to produce a project to assist individuals with criminal backgrounds.