Carina Cisneros

Did you know that the chances of getting a job callback or offer decreases by 50% for those with a criminal record? This fact is provided by Amy L. Solomon’s “In Search of a Job: Criminal Records as Barriers to Employment” This is why many formerly incarcerated people struggle to get back on their feet and turn their life around. With about a third of Americans having a criminal record, this has become a problem. In many cases, a criminal record should not prevent one from acquiring a job, safe housing, and an education. Although I do understand that some individuals who have been imprisoned and released can be dangerous, this is not the case for everyone. Many people with a criminal record have only been charged with mild offenses, which is not always considered when they wish to buy a house, find education, or apply for a job.

Many people with a criminal record struggle to find employment because they are seen as untrustworthy or dangerous. In many situations, this is not the case.  Lucius Couloute and Daniel Kopf’s “Out of Prison & Out of Work: Unemployment among formerly incarcerated people” states that in 2008 the unemployment rate for those who have been incarcerated was 27%, which was greater than the unemployment peak during the Great Depression. They also mention that despite the unemployment rates, people still want to work. Studies show that 93.3% of unemployed citizens between the ages of 25-44 years old are looking for a job, or are already employed. In comparison, only 83.8% of people from the general population and in the same age group are looking for a job, or are already employed. It is also quite common that some groups are able to find jobs more easily than others. For example, African Americans and Latinos have higher unemployment rates than other groups when having a criminal record. The same pattern can be noticed between men and women. It is typically easier for men with a criminal record to find employment than women with a criminal record.

These unemployment rates often cause another problem; the struggle to find safe housing. Because many formerly incarcerated people are unemployed or don’t have a well-paying job, they may not be able to find somewhere safe to live. According to the California Health Policy Strategies, L.L.C, 70% of formerly incarcerated people are a part of the unsheltered homeless population. According to many other sources, formerly incarcerated people are about 10 times more likely to become homeless than the general public. Center for Children’s Advocacy “Applying for Jobs and Housing: What I Need to Know About My Criminal Record” and Julia Singer Bansal’s “Updated Report: Housing for Adults With Criminal Records”, state that a landlord or property owner has the right to deny housing to someone because of a criminal record. This is another reason why many people with criminal records end up homeless. Unfortunately homelessness can push people to commit crimes in order to survive, causing some formerly incarcerated homeless people to end up back in jail or prison. 

The Law Office of Donald A. Lykkebak’s “5 Ways a Criminal Record Can Impact Your Education” talks about how a criminal record can affect your chances of getting accepted in colleges or universities, the classes and courses you can take, the student housing you are able to get, and any financial aid or scholarships you qualify for. Although many colleges and universities don’t ask about applicants’ criminal records, many also do. According to Judith Scott-Clayton’s “Thinking ‘beyond the box’: The use of criminal records in college admission”, 60-80 percent of private universities require applicants to answer questions about their criminal record. This source also states that about 55 percent of public universities do the same. All of this may be very discouraging or make it difficult for those with a criminal record to receive a higher education, or get better paying jobs. This also plays a part in the low income and unemployment rates of people with criminal records. If they are unable to attend college or university, it is likely that they will end up unemployed or with a low income job.

Although many efforts have been made to give those with a criminal record a fair chance at turning their life around, there are still hurtful stereotypes which make this more difficult. It is true that some formerly incarcerated people may be dangerous, many are not. Also, criminal records are commonly inaccurate because of false information, mixed up identities, and the lack of updates. Unfortunately the general public typically believes that anyone with a criminal record is dangerous, causing them to constantly judge them. This leads to people with criminal records struggling to find employment, housing, and education. So…this is why I believe having a criminal record shouldn’t always prevent people from finding housing, education, or employment.

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Carina is a non-fiction writer and artist from the United States, who is interested in and studies psychology. She wishes to eventually sell her art, and have her writing published in newspapers and magazines. Her Instagram and TikTok are: _clay_crafts_art_

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