More than a 'McJob': Criminal Records, Education, and Access to Middle-Skill Jobs

• In Event: Work, Worth, and Desistance from Crime: The Employment Connection

Abstract

Several criminological theories identify employment as an important “turning point” that decreases the likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior; however, studies have found the effect of employment on recidivism to be small. Recent scholarship has suggested a compelling explanation for these findings; it is not just any jobs, but good jobs, that improve outcomes, and policy should prioritize helping individuals with criminal records build skills that are valued on the middle-skill workforce. To this end, recent policy initiatives intended to expand college access to incarcerated students have been proposed—and passed—with broad bipartisan support. This résumé audit study intends to investigate whether college credentials earned behind bars improve the likelihood of securing middle-skill employment. Using the resumes of fictional applicants with criminal records that vary on (1) one of three possible educational credentials, including two postsecondary credentials and one secondary credential earned while incarcerated, and (2) two possible race conditions (black or white), the researcher applied to 2500 middle-skill job advertisements in one labor market (Chicago, IL). The results suggest that bachelor’s degrees earned while incarcerated significantly increase the likelihood of being extended an interview for a middle-skill position.

Author

• Abby Ballou, Northeastern University