Criminal Record at Work [2022 Study]

Old sins cast long shadows. Old habits die hard. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

Same old story.

Is there any place for new then? A new beginning, for example.

Let’s find out.

Second-chance hiring is about making it possible for ex-offenders to leave the past behind and start a new life. Its aim is to give the man a fishing pole, not a fish.

Having a job helps people with criminal records get back on track and turn their backs on crime.

The desire to have a job does not go hand in hand with getting hired, though. Ex-offenders face huge obstacles to finding stable employment.

A Brookings Institution study on work before and after incarceration revealed that 45% of formerly imprisoned people report no earnings for the first year after their release. Arguably, a direct result of the fact that employers are often unwilling to hire criminal record holders.

With few job offers, ex-offenders are often forced to take temporary, part-time, or under-the-table work. What’s even worse, local laws may restrict their access to occupational licenses and other credentials.

The price to pay for old sins is high. And the spirits get low. To add some cheer-up accent, we can say that dead ends often turn out to be new beginnings. But not when there is no one to stand by you.

Helping hands

According to public-policy experts, ex-convicts’ struggle to get hired often reflects racial bias and public perception.

ReNika Moore, director of the ACLU’s Racial Justice Program, claims that:“Many of these restrictions have nothing to do with the ability to do the job. And they are particularly harmful to Black and Brown communities, who are over-policed.”

The Prison Policy Initiative Mass Incarceration 2022 report proves that disparities within the judicial system are especially harsh for Black Americans, who make up 38% of the incarcerated population despite comprising 12% of US residents.

These findings are worrying.

The good news is that we could see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

There are companies that take pride in second-chance hiring. And their number is growing.

Timpson is a successful British family retail business and foundation specializing in the recruitment of marginalized groups within society. They are now one of the largest employers of ex-offenders in the UK and approximately 10% of their workforce is made up of people who have criminal convictions.

Being fearful of hiring people with difficult backgrounds is a dated and loss-making concept. We wouldn’t be the biggest and best in our field without them.James TimpsonChief Executive of Timpson

In this special workplace, they believe in giving everyone a second chance. Instead of judging people on what they have done in the past, Timpson’s team prefers to focus on what they can do in the future.By carefully selecting the right individuals to work in our business, we have enabled thousands of ex-offenders to have a second chance in life and go on to have rewarding careers. Often, other employers don’t realize they can be missing out on some very talented, hardworking individuals. Their loss is our gain. Currently, our retention rate for colleagues who we have recruited from prison or who have a criminal conviction is approximately 75%. This means that the vast majority of colleagues that we employ from prison do not re-offend.

We believe that by offering people an alternative to crime, and enabling them to break the offending cycle, we can make a real difference in society. Statistics prove that employment can be a significant factor in reducing re-offending, which is good news for all of us.

[from Timpson’s official website]

As Timpson’s slogan says, they provide “great service by great people”.

So—

If you desire a change and want to live a new life, your criminal record has no power to deprive you of that greatness. At Timpson, at least.

An American company that shares the vision of a society where everyone gets a second chance is Goodwill Industries International. This non-profit social enterprise’s mission is to help people achieve their full potential through providing the support they need, learning, and the power of work.

Goodwill Industries International offers formerly incarcerated people job-placement assistance.

We’re not only giving someone a great opportunity to move forward in their life, we’re giving ourselves the opportunity to learn about the world and to create a richer work environment.Steve PrestonCEO of Goodwill Industries International

Enthusiastic voices on second-chance hiring heard from such big fish as Timpson and Goodwill sound promising. Is working with criminal record holders a bed of roses then? Well, dfferent people have different opinions.

Keep reading to get a multi-angle perspective..