Why Do Employers Discriminate Against Individuals with Criminal Records?

• In Event: The Accuracy and Use of Criminal Records for Non-Criminal Justice Purposes

Abstract

Do employers discriminate against job candidates with criminal records applying to job openings? If they do, what are the reasons? These questions are addressed in a new semi-experimental correspondence study aimed at assessing labor market discrimination against ex-convicts. A new method is proposed to disentangle the different potential sources of discrimination. The economic literature has suggested that discrimination may result from 1) employers' 'distaste' towards ex-offenders; 2) and/or employers' perceptions that ex-convicts have lower abilities than the general population; and/or 3) employers' higher uncertainties towards ex-convicts' decision-making abilities. Disentangling the sources of discrimination towards ex-convicts offers new guidelines for developing more effective public policies for improving the employability of this group.

Authors

• Marti Rovira, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona)

• Jorge Rodriguez Menés, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona)