Catrina Johnson and Kristenne Robison

"Pledge to Practice: Examining Organization’s Commitment to Hiring and Retaining Individuals with Criminal Records" by Catrina Johnson and Kristenne Robison

Abstract:

Justice-involved individuals are often a forgotten minority as it pertains to creating equitable employment opportunities. Unlike other stigmatized groups, such as women or individuals with a disability, there are no federal civil rights laws to protect them. Additionally, when the stigma of a criminal record coincides with another attribute, such as a racial or ethnic identity, the effects are compounded, as the stigma of a criminal record is heightened for individuals who are also Black and/or Hispanic. Consequently, this population is often subjected to discriminatory hiring practices as a result of employers’ attitudes, perceptions, and biases. While existing research has focused on employers’ perceptions of hiring justice-involved individuals, little attention has been given to policies and practices that organizations enact to attenuate employment barriers. Thus, our research aim is to develop a typology of organizations that informs the various levels of practices and engagement in hiring and retaining justice-involved individuals.