Employment after incarceration: managing a socially stigmatized identity

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the social stigmatization of the formerly incarcerated identity and how this affects employment post-release. The authors consider the characteristics of this identity and the identity management strategies that individuals draw from as they navigate employment. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted semi-structured interviews with 22 men at various stages of release from federal institutions in Canada. Participants were actively searching for employment, intending to or would consider searching for employment, or had searched for employment in the past post-incarceration. Participant data were simultaneously collected, coded and analyzed using an inductive approach (Gioia et al., 2012). Findings Formerly incarcerated individuals have a unique awareness of the social stigmatization associated with their criminal record and incarceration history. They are tasked with an intentional choice to disclose or conceal that identity throughout the employment process. Six identity management strategies emerged from their accounts: conditional disclosure, deflection, identity substitution, defying expectations, withdrawal and avoidance strategies. More specifically, distinct implications of criminal record and incarceration history on disclosure decisions were evident. Based on participants’ accounts of their reintegration experiences, four aspects that may inform disclosure decisions include: opportune timing, interpersonal dynamics, criminal history and work ethic. Originality/value The authors explore the formerly incarcerated identity as a socially stigmatized identity and consider how individuals manage this identity within the employment context. The authors identify incarceration history and criminal record as having distinct impacts on experiences of stigma and identity management strategic choice, thus representing the experience of a “double stigma”.

The competing effects of racial discrimination and racial identity on the predicted number of days incarcerated in the US: A national profile of Black, Latino/Latina, and American Indian/Alaska Native populations

“…While the mean number of days incarcerated was highest among Black respondents (78 days), we also identified that the AI/AN population reported the highest rate (26%) of ever being detained in their lifetime. The impacts of this cannot be understated, especially given the impact that prior incarceration has on job application and employment opportunities [ 30 ], discrimination and stigma based on conviction status [ 31 ], and adverse experiences among children of incarcerated parents [ 32 ]. By directly addressing social determinants of health across multiple racial/ethnic minoritized groups, the current study illustrates a measurable outcome of structural racism in an easily understood and relatable metric of days spent in a jail or prison setting.…”

Hiring Ex-Offenders: An Application of Theory of Planned Behaviour

“…Abdullah (2001) narrates that Malaysians are usually viewed as kind, generous, considerate, and having sturdy humane attitudes towards the less fortunate. Therefore, within a supportive organizational culture, job applications by ex-offenders are given higher consideration compared to an organizational culture that is less accepting of ex-offenders (Anazodo et al, 2019). Based on the above discussion, we propose the following hypothesis:…”

Employment after prison: Navigating conditions of precarity and stigma

“…Precarious labour is often low paying and offers few ways for already vulnerable populations to better their lives (Spencer, 2017). Former prisoners bear a stigma (Anazodo et al, 2019) and are expected to obtain employment as a condition of their release from prison yet are often limited in their occupational opportunities (Harding et al, 2019; Holzer et al, 2005). While researchers have long acknowledged the barriers faced by releasees, a lacuna in current knowledge remains around how these barriers, in particular, stigma, interact with current labour markets and employment strategies to further shape former prisoners’ employment experiences.…”