Employability Perceptions: does a reference from probation reduce rejection rates?

Finding and maintaining employment is challenging for those with a prior conviction, especially for those with a sexual offence. This study investigated perceived employability before and after the disclosure of criminal history through a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, using a mixed-methods design. A total of 226 participants were randomly assigned to one of three DBS conditions, each disclosing a different sexual offence: rape, sexual activity with a child, or possession of indecent images of children. Participants rated candidates on trustworthiness, value, and suitability for employment both before and after the DBS disclosure. To examine the potential mitigating effect of character references, half of the participants in each offence condition received an accompanying probation reference, while the other half did not. All participants were subsequently asked whether they would retain or reject the candidate and to provide reasoning for their decision. As hypothesised, ratings of trustworthiness, value, and suitability significantly declined following the disclosure of the DBS information. However, the inclusion of a probation reference led to reduced rejection rates in the conditions involving sexual activity with a child (by 18 %) and possession of indecent images of children (by 24 %). This mitigating effect was less pronounced in the condition involving rape. These findings highlight the persistent stigma associated with sexual offences in employment contexts and suggest that character references from probation services may partially mitigate negative perceptions, though their effectiveness varies by offence type.