One of the most significant challenges that ex-felons and convicts are facing is the denial of employment, which acts as a contributing factor to increased recidivism rates. The lack of employment due to past criminal history creates a situation where it becomes difficult or challenging for ex-felons to meet their economic needs and demands. The ultimate result is that this prompts them towards engaging in the same criminal behaviors or habits leading to second or third-time convictions. The issue has taken root within the criminal justice system with the view that society tends to lack the primary avenues for having to absorb ex-felons regardless of their criminal histories. Thus, this creates a situation where a majority of the ex-felons face a significant risk of having to engage in criminal actions with the focus being on meeting their needs.
As the population continues to increase at a significant rate, ex-felons find themselves in a position where it becomes difficult for them to get employment within civilian jobs taking into account that some of these felons have a lesser education background. Additionally, the fact that these persons were serving prison sentences means that they do not have the requisite employment background that would advance their abilities to get the necessary employment. Although the criminal justice system is developed towards promoting reforms for the persons in the system, it becomes hard for these persons to maintain the reforms that they achieve while in the system after they have been freed back into the society (Berg & Huebner, 2010). In most cases, ex-felons are viewed as being less-appealing applicants when compared to some of the other applicants for given employment positions attributed to their criminal history.
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Employers have the authority of having to undertake background checks in a bid to establishing whether the applicants have been involved in any form of criminal activities in the past (Berg & Huebner, 2010). In cases of ex-felons, it becomes somewhat challenging for them to highlight their effectiveness based on their applications regardless of their understanding of the position that they seek employment. The outcome of the background check results in cases of disqualification for the ex-felons, which, in turn, results in high levels of frustration. The frustration created as a result of a denial of employment in different employment positions creates a situation where the ex-felons find it much easier to engage in prior behaviors as a way of life. Consequently, this acts as a guarantee that indeed the recidivism rates would increase significantly taking into consideration that majority of these ex-felons are convicted for their engagement in such criminal behavior.
In a study by the Center for Economic and Policy Research, it was clear that ex-felons have a less than 30% chance of being employed when compared to an applicant that has not been convicted of any crime (Lockwood, Nally, Ho, & Knutson, 2012). The reduction in possibilities of employment results from the fact that majority of employers tend to hold the view that majority of these ex-felons have not abandoned their prior behaviors. Additionally, this also comes as a result of the fact that a majority of employers believe that hiring ex-felons would have adverse outcomes for their companies or organizations. However, it must be noted that this acts as a stereotypic approach of having to deal with ex-felons considering that a majority of them may have reformed while in the criminal justice system.
The correlation between re-offending and employment cannot be disowned considering that every individual needs some form of employment that would help in ensuring that one becomes economically stable (Tripodi, Kim, & Bender, 2010). The issue is fueled by the fact that the recidivism rates are increasing with the majority of the second or third-time offenders arguing that the society did not appreciate their release from the criminal justice system. Ultimately, this creates a situation where a majority of these persons tend to believe in the fact that indeed their engagement in crime would act as a viable solution to the issue of unemployment. That has created the need for having to establish a framework through which to ensure that ex-felons are absorbed back into the community. The absorption of these persons would mean that employers would be expected to give these persons an opportunity to work within civilian jobs with the view that indeed this would help in reducing the risk of re-offending for a majority of the ex-felons.
In summary, the issue of re-offending and the increasing rate of recidivism has been driven by the fact that the majority of the ex-felons find it hard to get employment attributed to their criminal background. Although a majority of the ex-felons may have reformed regarding their criminal behaviors, the fact that they have been convicted of criminal actions in the past acts as a critical aspect resulting in discrimination from employment. The rate of employment for ex-felons is approximately 30% in comparison to those that have not been convicted of any crimes in the past. That becomes a vital issue of concern considering that it becomes somewhat challenging or difficult for these persons tend to meet their respective economic needs. Ultimately, this forces the ex-felons to shift their attention towards criminal behaviors with the view that this would act as a source of support for them.
References
Berg, M. T., & Huebner, B. M. (2011). Reentry and the ties that bind: An examination of the social relations, employment, and recidivism. Justice Quarterly , 28 (2), 382-410.
Lockwood, S., Nally, J. M., Ho, T., & Knutson, K. (2012). The effect of correctional education on post-release employment and recidivism: A 5-year follow-up study in the state of Indiana. Crime & delinquency , 58 (3), 380-396.
Tripodi, S. J., Kim, J. S., & Bender, K. (2010). Is employment associated with reduced recidivism? The complex relationship between employment and crime. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology , 54 (5), 706-720.
