Employer attitudes towards previously incarcerated individuals : the local context

Abstract

This project looks at employer attitudes towards previously incarcerated persons (PIPs) in the local context. In Part 1 of the study, the general trend of employer attitudes towards prisoners was analysed. Part 2 looked at characteristics that employers considered to be most important when considering to hire a PIP. A quantitative approach was adopted and data was collected through the use of a questionnaire that included within it Melvin et al.,’s (1985) Attitudes Towards Prisoners Scale. General attitude scores for Part 1 of the study were collected from 71 participants (50 females, 21 males). The opt-out question that led to the second part of the study brought the sample size down to 61. Means of employer age, gender, and acquaintance with a PIP were compared and analysed. Results from this part of this study were not statistically significant. Results from the second part of the study, however, shed light on the characteristics that are deemed valuable by the employer and that increase the likelihood of a PIP being considered for employment. The results reveal that employers consider the type of offence committed by the individual, the frequency of offending, and the highest level of education completed to be important characteristics when making their hiring decision. Results also showed that individuals who committed sexual-offence related crimes, crimes of domestic violence, fraud-related crimes, and gender-based violent crimes were less likely to be considered for employment than individuals who committed non-violent crimes. With regards to the highest level of education completed, a PIP with a tertiary level of education was significantly more likely to be considered for employment than a PIP with a vocational, post-secondary level, or secondary level of education. The last finding in particular, has implications for policy and programmes that seek to rehabilitate and reintegrate prisoners into society. These individuals deserve a swift reintegration into society rather than ostracism driven by stigma and discrimination.