“Recidivism; Ex-Offender Re-entry & Employment; Obstacles & Opportunities”
Every year, about 1,700 people return home to Southeast Texas after being released from state and federal prisons. For most of them, finding a job is one of the conditions of supervised release. For most of them, finding a job is also one of the biggest obstacles they face. Many jobs that require state licenses are off-limits as a matter of law. Even when there’s no legal prohibition, many employers have policies or practices that bar ex-offenders from consideration. Yet research and experience have shown that those who are able to secure meaningful employment are far less likely to re-offend. Employers who have hired ex-offenders have found them to be among their most grateful, loyal, hardworking employees. This presentation will briefly explore the issue of ex-offender re-entry and employment, including incentives for employers who hire them.
