A phenomenological study of employer perspectives on hiring ex- offenders

Abstract

Several researchers established a direct relationship between recidivism and ex-offenders’ unemployment. While the consequences of ex-offender unemployment to society are known, the lived experiences of employers or business owners making employment decisions about ex-offenders were unknown. Using data obtained from in-depth interviews with employers who have considered hiring an ex-offender in the Baltimore Metropolitan area, this phenomenological study yielded findings that perception and trust played significant roles in employers’ hiring decisions. The study further revealed that employers recognize ex-offenders need assistance with basic workplace skills and that one of the primary concerns about employing ex-offenders is a backlash from customer perceptions.

Keywords

• ex- offender employment
• public perception
• recidivism
• reentry
• stigma
• trust