On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in Drug Crimes on Thursday, March 21, 2019.
“Get a Job” is the title to a classic pop song of yesteryear. Hollywood also recently released a film with the same name. Millions of people across the country daily think about jobs, apply for jobs and dream of scoring jobs.
There is no dearth of data to conclusively demonstrate that being gainfully employed links closely with a person’s self-esteem. And just as importantly, of course, having a job is what pays the rent, provides for families, secures further education and enables upward mobility.
Not being able to score work – especially repeatedly and over a long period – can easily dash a job seeker’s aspirations.
Especially if that individual has a criminal record.
A recent national media piece on persons with criminal histories seeking to secure employment duly notes that, pointing to multiple adverse consequences for legions of such individuals. One of those is the higher recidivism (return-to-prison) rate tied to offenders who can’t find employment following the completion of their sentences. One human resources principal states that released persons don’t customarily end up back in prison “because they’re bad actors,” but because “they can’t provide for their families.”
Evidence is now emerging to suggest that the long-held status quo of employers simply ditching applications with “yes” checked in criminal history boxes is at least being dented.
Walmart eliminated application queries about criminal history close to 10 years ago. Target reportedly solicits criminal information only “in the final stages of the hiring process.” Some companies are taking pledges to hire applicants based solely on merit alone. There are indications that job-placement needs, an exceptionally low unemployment rate and changing public perceptions about released-offender community reassimilation are spurring more hiring managers to take a fairer and more nuanced look at ex-offender job applicants.
That is all encouraging news, of course, and a development that every proven criminal defense attorney knows spawns positive post-release effects.
Questions or concerns about an arrest, criminal charge or related matter can be directed to an experienced defense legal team that strives to secure optimal results for clients in every case.