Building a labor force that works: including justice-involved individuals
Taking an innovative approach to the reentry journey
The integration of justice-involved individuals into the workforce can positively impact public safety and economic growth. Research results show that that justice-involved individuals who find stable, full-time employment are less likely to reoffend, and the exclusion of justice-involved individuals from our economy depresses growth.
Readying people for the workforce should begin during incarceration and continue well into a person’s reentry journey. Moreover, workforce development ecosystems can support people that are justice-involved by activating promising practices that help reduce recidivism, support longterm reentry, and bolster local economies.
This report offers solutions that can be implemented by corrections departments, institutions of higherlearning, policymakers, community-based organizations, and employers.
Creating an approach to maximize employment
- Reentry ecosystem and employment planning
There are opportunities for governments, educational institutions, private employers, and community-based service providers to support people who are justice-involved and facilitate a successful return to their communities. - Expanding higher education in prisons
Research indicates people who complete education programs while incarcerated are less likely to recidivate and more likely to find jobs once released than those who did not. - Expanding digital literacy training in prisons
This rebuilding of education for incarcerated people should also include access to digital literacy training. There is a new global push for offender digital rights as a basis for helping to ensure that offenders are given the digital tools and support they need to become contributing members of society. - Industry-specific career pathways and skills-based hiring
Many large employers have turned to industry-specific employment pathways and skills-based hiring, which has opened opportunities to individuals that do not possess a college degree or traditional form of education. These relationships not only help create job opportunities and support networks but also provide employers with access to new talent pipelines to help close their skill gaps - Wraparound support services
Wraparound services are integral to people involved in the justice system entering and remaining in the workforce. Providing services such as behavioral healthcare, housing assistance, and legal services can reduce recidivism and lead to increased job retention. - Combatting the stigma of a criminal conviction
Second chance hiring has tangible benefits for employees and employers, which in turn help strengthen economies
Working together for the future of hiring justice-involved persons
To improve outcomes for people who have history with the justice system, the ecosystem can take a collaborative approach to consider the following priorities:
