Exploring the Impact of a Delinquency Record on Employer Callbacks

• In Event: Contemporary and Critical Issues in a Constantly Changing Juvenile Justice System

Abstract

Research consistently shows that employers are less likely to callback job applicants with criminal records. While this issue has been explored in depth for adults with criminal histories, relatively few studies have considered the impact of a delinquency history on employment outcomes in adulthood. States are increasingly limiting the expungement protections that were once granted to juvenile delinquents and juvenile court proceedings are becoming more public, suggesting that they may now face similar stigmas as adults by employers. Recently, one nationwide survey of employers found that 25% of employers reported they would not hire a former delinquent. The current study was conducted to determine how the true actions of employers play out when confronted with a resume for a juvenile delinquent. A correspondence study was conducted where resumes of fictitious applicants, one with a delinquency history and one without a delinquency history, were submitted to employers across Northern Nevada. The frequency of callbacks by employers based upon the delinquency history of the applicant will be reported along with a discussion of policy implications and directions for future research.

Authors

• Melanie Taylor, University of Nevada, Reno

• Tara Cole, University of Nevada, Reno

• Jena Garrick, University of Nevada