Building an Employment Bridge: Making Ex-Offenders Marketable, Getting Employers to the Table, and Increasing the Likelihood of an Employment Connection

Abstract

If an ex-offender lies about their criminal record on a job application, there is a risk of being fired if their criminal record is later discovered. If an ex-offender is honest and discloses their criminal record, there is a risk of not getting the job in the first place. Various strategies - financial incentives, erasing of criminal records after demonstrated rehabilitation, certificates of rehabilitation issued by the state, and third-party intermediaries - can make ex-offenders more marketable and employers more willing to hire ex-offenders.