Racial Disparities and Similarities in Post-Release Recidivism and Employment Among Ex-prisoners with a Different Level of Education

Abstract

Previous studies, both international and domestic, rarely examined racial disparities in post-release employment and recidivism. Finding a job is an immediate challenge to all ex-prisoners, and often more difficult for African American ex-prisoners who typically return to economically-depressed neighborhoods upon release from prison. The present researchers conducted a 5-year (2005-2009) follow-up study in an attempt to understand racial disparities in post-release employment and recidivism among 6,394 ex-prisoners (2,531 Caucasian ex-prisoners and 3,863 African American ex-prisoners), while controlling for the ex-prisoner's level of education. Results of this study showed that African American ex-prisoners had a higher unemployment rate and recidivism rate than Caucasian ex-prisoners. This study also revealed that ex-prisoners, if employed, would likely be under-employed and experience difficulties in sustaining employment, regardless of the ex-prisoner's race. Most importantly, post-release employment and level of education were the two most influential predictors to recidivism among ex-prisoners, regardless of race.

Predicting support for community corrections: Crime type and severity, and offender, observer, and victim characteristics

“…Additional findings on the impact of offender characteristics refer to occupational and legal status. The research on post-incarceration release indicates that offender occupational function and employment are essential to community reintegration, promote rehabilitation (Varghese et al., 2010) and decrease recidivism (Lockwood et al., 2017; Manikandan and Latha, 2017). Similarly, and according to our hypothesis, our findings indicate that the general public acknowledges the significance of employment in community correction.…”

“…In addition to these variables, the current research also addressed offender occupational function and legal status. Offender occupational function is one of the most important factors in community reintegration and rehabilitation (Lockwood et al., 2017; Manikandan and Latha, 2017; Varghese et al., 2010), although the research on its effect on attitudes toward offenders and CC support is scant. According to Varghes et al's (2010) findings, offender job qualifications mitigated criminal history bias in cases of misdemeanor charges.…”

Captives in Society: The Role of Race in the Carceral Cycle

“…Because race serves as an organizing principle in American society, both within a society of captives and the society to which those captives return once released, non-White ex-prisoners face acute barriers to reintegration. Non-White ex-prisoners struggle more than their White peers to find post-release employment (Pager 2008;Western and Sirois 2019;Spohn and Holleran 2000;Strickland 2016;Lockwood et al 2015;Johnson 2001;Ortiz and Jackey 2019) and housing (Couloute 2018), to develop social capital (Strickland 2016;Flavin 2004), to be afforded education opportunities (Lockwood et al 2015;Stewart and Uggen 2020), and to receive adequate healthcare (Lee and Wildeman 2013;London and Myers 2006;Schnittker, Massoglia, and Uggen 2011). Even in the free world, the pains of incarceration often persist.…”

A Follow-Up Study on Recidivism among Adjudicated Juveniles with Special Education in the Juvenile Correctional Facility

“…The impact of educational deficiency on recidivism is significant. Research indicates that educationally illiterate ex-offenders are likely disproportionally unemployed (Lockwood et al, 2015; Nally et al, 2013; Steurer and Smith, 2003; Winterfield et al, 2009). Subsequently, the recidivism rate among those educationally illiterate ex-offenders is significantly high.…”

“…Subsequently, the recidivism rate among those educationally illiterate ex-offenders is significantly high. For example, a recent study found that the recidivism rate among ex-offenders who had a college education was 31 %, but the recidivism rate was 56 % among ex-offenders who did not complete high school prior to release from the prison (Lockwood et al, 2015).…”