“We all benefit when people returning home
from prison are given the opportunity to work” was the theme of a citywide
civic forum hosted by the Center for Nu Leadership to address systemic and
societal barriers that hinder former offenders from finding employment.
For the hundreds of thousands of Americans
returning home from incarceration each year having a job is essential to
reclaiming status as responsible citizens in the community. Stable employment
allows individuals to provide for themselves and their families, to reestablish
a positive identity among family members and other supportive networks, and to
be optimistic about their futures. Yet, factors such as civil penalties that
automatically attach upon conviction and widespread negative perceptions about
the formerly incarcerated prevent many from finding stable employment.
Panelists proposed several solutions and highlighted numerous reforms that are
currently in action to help persons returning home realize their goals of
gainful employment.
Message for the Formerly
Incarcerated--Get Your RAP Sheet Reviewed
Many employees perform criminal background
checks on prospective employees as part of the hiring process. With increasing
frequency landlords, training programs, and educational institutions are also
incorporating background checks into the pre-screening process. By having your
Record of Arrests and Prosecution (RAP sheet) reviewed you can correct mistakes
before they become a problem. RAP sheets are often incomplete or contain
errors. Common errors include incorrect entries, duplicate entries, false open
warrants, and failure to seal confidential information.
Having your record reviewed before you apply
for a job or license allows you to take control of your narrative. Knowing
exactly what is on your record places you in a better position to spot mistakes
on your background check and to correct an employer’s misunderstanding about
your record. Additionally, reviewing your record places you in a better
position to craft your story in a manner that highlights your strengths and rehabilitation
as opposed to your past mistakes.
New Approaches to Delivering Justice
Traditionally, the focus of parole and
probation has been solely on compliance—making sure that individuals under
their supervision show up to their appointments and stay out of trouble. In
recent years, however, criminal justice practitioners have begun to ask new
questions about the most effective ways to advance public safety goals and, the
implications of these new approaches on the management of men and women
returning home from prison.
“It is about more than compliance, it is
about preparing individuals for reintegration into communities remarked parole
official, Dr. Vanda Seward. “Reentry is a process that begins when an
individual enters prison and we have not completed our job until the individual
successfully reenters the community. We know from experience that work helps to
reduce recidivism.”
A steady income is not only necessary to
provide for basic needs, such as food and housing, but also to help keep
individuals out of trouble. Work structures a substantial portion of an
individual’s time around gainful, pro-social activity, leaving less time to
associate with former pro-criminal peers and other negative influences.
However, in order for communities to reap the
benefits of ex-offender employment criminal justice agencies have to be
realistic about the demands of the job market. “If clients are eligible for
jobs that extend into the late night hours then maybe we need to consider
letting up on curfews. There are many good quality jobs that require individuals
to have a driving license,we should give people permission to get a driving
license if their past offense is not related to driving" argued Dr. Seward.
On a powerful ending note she stressed the
importance of staying true to the mission of community supervision agencies.
“We are not in the business of punishing folks. We are here to improve public
safety and provide the services people need to successfully complete their
sentence in the community.”
