Investigating Career Support for University Students with Criminal Records

• In Event: Navigating Stigma and Barriers: The Impact of Criminal Records on Education, Employment, and Relationships

Abstract

Up until recently, higher education has been a relatively overlooked area of collateral consequences literature. In England and Wales, scholars are responding to this gap by exploring university admissions practices for people with a criminal record (Brooks, 2023; Bald, 2022). Contributing to this emerging field of enquiry, this paper presents preliminary research findings exploring how university students, and recent graduates, navigate the graduate job market with a criminal record. This paper presents the findings of a pilot project conducted at several UK universities. The research sought to explore; 1) how university students and alumni students access careers advice via their universities (e.g. through student unions and careers teams), 2) how university advisors are supported to provide advice for students with criminal records, and 3) how students subsequently navigate the graduate job market with a criminal conviction after graduation. The aim of this paper is to present preliminary results from our data collection with students, graduates, and advisors, to provide insights into their experience of supporting PWCRs in their graduate employment. The paper will conclude by outlining future plans for the project, identifying initial steps for supporting students with criminal records, and asking how other universities and scholars at this conference can support.

Authors

• Charlotte Brooks, University of Nottingham

• Nicola Collett, DeMontfort University

• Scott Kidd, University of Lincoln