Stigma and Stigma and Recidivism: How Recidivism: How

Stigma Effects an Ex-Stigma Effects an Ex-Offender’s Ability to Offender’s Ability to

Find EmploymentFind EmploymentLaShonda Edwards and Dr. Sharon Rae JenkinsLaShonda Edwards and Dr. Sharon Rae Jenkins

Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement ProgramAchievement Program

Department of PsychologyDepartment of PsychologyUniversity of North TexasUniversity of North Texas

Denton, TexasDenton, Texas

IntroductionIntroduction

• Little empirical attention has been given to Little empirical attention has been given to if, how, and why stigma impacts the lives of if, how, and why stigma impacts the lives of former prisoners.former prisoners.

• While the proliferation of self-help While the proliferation of self-help organizations and literature suggests that organizations and literature suggests that many of us believe that we can change our many of us believe that we can change our own lives, personalities, or behaviors, we do own lives, personalities, or behaviors, we do not necessarily extend this belief in the not necessarily extend this belief in the potential to change to others potential to change to others

• This study will investigate the affect stigma This study will investigate the affect stigma has on released prisoners success in has on released prisoners success in obtaining employment. obtaining employment.

RecidivismRecidivism• For the purposes of this For the purposes of this

study, recidivism is study, recidivism is defined as a relapse into defined as a relapse into criminal behavior that criminal behavior that results in incarceration. results in incarceration.

• Reentry Trends in the U.S.Reentry Trends in the U.S.

• In a 15 State study, over In a 15 State study, over two-thirds of released two-thirds of released prisoners were rearrested prisoners were rearrested within three years.within three years.– Bureau of Justice StatisticsBureau of Justice Statistics

Statistics and RaceStatistics and Race• More than 6 in 10 persons in More than 6 in 10 persons in

local jails in 2002 were racial local jails in 2002 were racial or ethnic minorities, or ethnic minorities, unchanged from 1996 (Bureau unchanged from 1996 (Bureau of Justice Statistics). of Justice Statistics).

• Blacks and Hispanics together Blacks and Hispanics together account for about two-thirds of account for about two-thirds of the state prison population. the state prison population.

• Black men are six to eight Black men are six to eight times more likely to be in times more likely to be in prison than whites. prison than whites.

• If white men were incarcerated If white men were incarcerated at the same rate as blacks at the same rate as blacks there would be over 6 million there would be over 6 million people in prison and jail people in prison and jail (Western, 2007).(Western, 2007).

StigmaStigma

• Social stigma has its roots in the early work Social stigma has its roots in the early work of Erving Goffman’s classic book of Erving Goffman’s classic book Stigma: Stigma: Notes on the Management of a Spoiled Notes on the Management of a Spoiled Identity.Identity.

• According to Goffman (1963, p. 3) stigma is According to Goffman (1963, p. 3) stigma is an attribute that extensively discredits an an attribute that extensively discredits an individual, reducing him or her “from a individual, reducing him or her “from a whole and usual person to a tainted whole and usual person to a tainted discounted one”.discounted one”.

• Goffman (1963, p.5) stated that “by Goffman (1963, p.5) stated that “by definition, of course, we believe the person definition, of course, we believe the person with a stigma is not quite human”. with a stigma is not quite human”.

Consequences of StigmaConsequences of Stigma

• ““It is generally understood that It is generally understood that members of stigmatized groups are members of stigmatized groups are devalued and discredited and often devalued and discredited and often suffer from social exclusion as a suffer from social exclusion as a result” (LeBel 2006). result” (LeBel 2006).

• By limiting access to important life By limiting access to important life domains, discrimination directly domains, discrimination directly affects the social status, psychological affects the social status, psychological well-being, and physical health of the well-being, and physical health of the stigmatized (Major & O’Brien 2005).stigmatized (Major & O’Brien 2005).

Stigma vs. Hiring Stigma vs. Hiring DesirabilityDesirability

• Stigma can effect the hiring desirability Stigma can effect the hiring desirability of an ex-offender.of an ex-offender.– This effect will be studiedThis effect will be studied

• Hiring desirability is operationally Hiring desirability is operationally defined as the social appeal of defined as the social appeal of characteristics that are used when characteristics that are used when deciding whether to hire a person or deciding whether to hire a person or not.not.– Characteristics such as sophistication, Characteristics such as sophistication,

dedication, intelligence, eagerness etc.dedication, intelligence, eagerness etc.

EmploymentEmployment• One of the key factors to

reducing recidivism is to help incarcerated felons obtain steady employment after their release.

• Not only does incarceration reduce pay and employment it reduces the kind of jobs that are available to formerly incarcerated workers. – Career jobs requiring a high

level of trust, skill, credentials, or well placed social connections are largely out of reach for those with prison records (Western, 2007).

Purpose of StudyPurpose of Study

• This study will investigate the hiring This study will investigate the hiring practices of employers regarding ex-practices of employers regarding ex-offenders.offenders.

• This study will add to the existing This study will add to the existing research literature on this population.research literature on this population.– There is very little research done in this There is very little research done in this

field.field.– Previous research has failed to go deeper Previous research has failed to go deeper

and find the and find the specificspecific reasons why ex- reasons why ex-offenders can’t find adequate employmentoffenders can’t find adequate employment..

HypothesisHypothesis

• The top reason that employers will The top reason that employers will not hire ex-offenders is if they were not hire ex-offenders is if they were convicted of a violent crime as convicted of a violent crime as opposed to a non-violent crime.opposed to a non-violent crime.

• Higher levels of education may also Higher levels of education may also increase the chances of being increase the chances of being offered a job.offered a job.

Previous ResearchPrevious Research

• Giguere and Dundes first attempted to uncover the specific reasons ex-convicts are not hired by devising a hypothetical scenario. Respondents were asked whether their answers would change if sex, length of incarceration, etc. were different. – Employers’ greatest hiring concern was that ex-

offenders may not have the necessary people skills for contact with customers. The other factors they found eliciting greatest employer apprehension concerned customers’ feeling uncomfortable if they knew than an ex-convict worked at their business (81%) and worries about coworkers’ discomfort in working with an ex-convict (77%).

MeasureMeasure

• A survey will be delivered to non-franchise business in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The survey will consist of eight questions in the form of a hypothetical scenario that will cover employers’ hiring practices regarding ex-offenders. – Type of crime committed (violent or nonviolent),

amount of time served, previous work history, and education received (before incarceration and after incarceration).

• The survey will also include a likert scale after every scenario where employers will be asked what factors are most important and least important in hiring that particular ex-offender.

Hypothetical ScenarioHypothetical Scenario

• Bonquiesha, female, 32, African American, Bonquiesha, female, 32, African American, comes to your place of employment and applies comes to your place of employment and applies for a job. She seems eager to work. She is for a job. She seems eager to work. She is dressed appropriately but has on heavy make-dressed appropriately but has on heavy make-up. Before being incarcerated, she received her up. Before being incarcerated, she received her B.A. She has five years of previous work B.A. She has five years of previous work history. While she was incarcerated, she history. While she was incarcerated, she received a master’s degree. She was received a master’s degree. She was incarcerated for 5 years for assault with a incarcerated for 5 years for assault with a deadly weapon, a violent crime, and was deadly weapon, a violent crime, and was released six months ago.released six months ago.

• Would you hire this person?Would you hire this person?

ProcedureProcedure

• Contact by e-mail or phone will be established for permission to participate in this study prior to delivering the surveys.

• Informed noticeInformed notice• Three forms of the surveyThree forms of the survey

– Reduce primacy and recency effectsReduce primacy and recency effects– Scenarios presented in random orderScenarios presented in random order

AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments

• Dr. JenkinsDr. Jenkins• Dr. Ruggero Dr. Ruggero • Dr. ClarkDr. Clark• McNairMcNair• DeshunDeshun

Selected ReferencesSelected References

• Harrison, B., & Schehr, R. C. (2004). Harrison, B., & Schehr, R. C. (2004). Offenders and Offenders and post-release jobs: Variables post-release jobs: Variables influencing success and influencing success and failure. failure. Journal of Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 39 (3),Offender Rehabilitation, 39 (3), 35- 35- 68.68.

• Goffman, E. (1963). Goffman, E. (1963). Stigma: Notes on the Stigma: Notes on the management of management of spoiled identityspoiled identity. New . New York: Simon and Schuster.York: Simon and Schuster.

• Giguere, R. & Dundes, L. (2002, December). Giguere, R. & Dundes, L. (2002, December). Help Help wanted: A survey of employer wanted: A survey of employer concerns about concerns about hiring ex-convicts. hiring ex-convicts. Criminal Justice Policy Review 13(4), Criminal Justice Policy Review 13(4), 396-396-408.408.