The Effectiveness of Certificates of Relief: A Correspondence Audit of Hiring Outcomes

Abstract

Although there are several collateral consequence relief mechanisms that could theoretically be used to improve employment outcomes for those with criminal history, many of these mechanisms are available only for first‐time/low‐level individuals or possess other requirements that limit their accessibility. Recognizing these facts, some jurisdictions have created certificates of relief, which are generally more accessible than other relief mechanisms. The goal of the current study was to test whether one state's (Ohio) certificate could improve hiring outcomes for men with criminal histories comprised of felony theft, felony drug possession, and misdemeanor drug paraphernalia convictions. This goal was achieved with the use of two field experiments. Results showed that certificate holders with criminal history received significantly fewer callbacks than those with no criminal record and fared no better than those with an identical criminal record and no certificate. Further, African‐American applicants received significantly fewer callbacks than white applicants in all criminal record categories.

Criminal records and post-prison employment in Ghana: Formal and informal means of performing criminal background checks

“…More generally, irrespective of the means used to find out the criminal history of a job applicant, the findings support the extant literature that incarceration is associated with collateral consequences stemming from a criminal record such as limited opportunities for employment (Brown, 2021;Leasure and Kaminski, 2021;Logan, 2013;Uggen et al, 2014). Our study contributes to this area of research by showing the extra adverse effects that a previous conviction may have in countries without structured rules and reliable repositories governing access to criminal record information for non-criminal justice purposes.…”

“[It's] what you do after the mistake that counts”: Positive employment credentials, criminal record stigma, and potential pathways of mediation

“…Because signals are embedded in an interactive process and “become ‘real’ through social negotiation” (Maruna, 2012, p. 82), understanding how people perceive positive credentials is critical. Active policy discussions also take place surrounding increased access to certain types of state‐issued positive credentials to improve employment outcomes for this population (e.g., Doleac, 2016, in press) that in practice have had mixed reactions from decision makers (Denver, 2020; Denver & Ewald, 2018; Leasure & Kaminski, 2021).…”

How to overcome the cost of a criminal record for getting hired

“…The concept of signaling is relevant for much of the job market literature and has been applied by criminologists to explain how credentials or program completion can help those with a criminal history improve their employment prospects (Bushway & Apel, 2012; DeWitt & Denver, 2020; Holzer et al., 2002a; Hunt et al., 2018; Leasure & Kaminski, 2021). To be sure, the criminal record is itself a powerful signal, and one that carries great stigma by underscoring past problem behavior (Denver et al., 2017; Hunt et al., 2018; Lageson et al., 2015).…”