Criminal Records, Positive Employment Credentials, and Race

Objectives: To assess the impact of positive credentials on perceptions of individuals with criminal records and whether the effects of credentials differ by the type of conviction or the criminal record holder’s race. Methods: We present fictional job applicant details to a nationwide survey of American adults (n = 5,822) using a factorial design. We manipulate whether the job applicant is Black or White and has a criminal record or not. Among those randomly assigned to have a criminal record, we also vary the type of felony (violent or drug), whether they report a positive credential, and the type of credential (if applicable). Results: Among those with criminal records, respondents viewed applicants with positive credentials more favorably than those without credentials. In fact, a supportive reference letter from a former employer mitigates most of the stigma from a criminal record. The results are consistent by applicant race as well as criminal record type, and our employer respondents react similarly to experimental conditions as compared to the overall sample. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the inclusion of positive credentials can help reduce criminal record stigma and aid in the normification process.