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Ex-Offenders/Re-Entered Citizens

Employers can make a significant impact in transforming a criminal liability into a community asset. Unemployed ex-offenders are at a greater risk of re-offending compared to employed ex-offenders. Recidivism is higher for these individuals primarily because they cannot find a job paying a livable wage.

  • Disparities amongst race and gender for unemployed formerly incarcerated people that are available to work yet remain unable to find secure jobs based on their past incarcerations, leads to a higher recidivism rate.
  • 70% of children with an incarcerated parent will follow in their footsteps.
  • In 1972, fewer than 350,000 people were being held in prisons and jails nationwide. Today, more than 2 million are being held.
  • Each person who is incarcerated costs the American taxpayer an average of $31,000 a year.
  • One year after release, up to 60% of people convicted of a crime are not employed, according to the National Institute of Justice.
  • Approximately 5,000 men and women are released from Iowa prisons each year.
  • 95% of incarcerated individuals in state prisons will be released back into their communities.

Benefits of Hiring Ex-Offenders

  • They could be the best available candidate from the talent pool you have.
  • Giving workers a second chance reduces the rate of recidivism.
  • Improving your community — the impact to the community and state you live and work in can be in the billions of dollars by tapping into this talent pool.

Resources

Employer Funding