The Secondary Punishment: A Study on Employer Attitudes to Hiring People with Criminal Convictions and Toolkit for Inclusive Hiring

• In Event: Collateral consequences, criminal records and employment

Abstract

This paper examines the attitudes of employers in Ireland to hiring people with convictions(s) (PWCs) and the experiences of PWCs in employment. Employment remains a key protective factor on the desistance journey and supports the development of an inclusive, fair, and equal society (Carr et al., 2015; Healy, 2017; Reich, 2017). Successful reintegration can partially be measured by employment outcomes for PWCs (Ramakers, 2021). There is evidence that employers are broadly open to hiring PWCs, but raise concerns based on perceptions of risk in doing so. The absence of guidance and uncertainty about evidence-based approaches and legal requirements leads to inconsistent policies and practices while PWCs continue to face intersecting barriers to employment and reintegration. This paper draws on a multi–method study of employers’ attitudes to hiring PWCs and experiences of employment pathways for PWCs, comprised of a survey (n = 55), interviews (n = 23), and a participatory symposium of key stakeholders in the summer of 2023. The paper presents 10 recommendations based on the key findings. The paper will be of interest to academics, researchers an people with lived experience of the criminal justice system while employers will benefit from the clear guidance for inclusive hiring of people with convictions in the form of a bespoke toolkit.

Authors

• Joe Garrihy, Maynooth University

• Ciara Bracken-Roche, Maynooth University