After Prison: Navigating Employment and Reintegration

by Rose Ricciardelli (Editor), Adrienne M.F. Peters (Editor)

Overview

Employment for former prisoners is a critical pathway toward reintegration into society and is central to the processes of desistance from crime. Nevertheless, the economic climate in Western countries has aggravated the ability of former prisoners and people with criminal records to find gainful employment.

After Prison opens with a former prisoner's story of reintegration employment experiences. Next, relying on a combination of research interviews, quantitative data, and literature, contributors present an international comparative review of Canada's evolving criminal record legislation; the promotive features of employment; the complex constraints and stigma former prisoners encounter as they seek employment; and the individual and societal benefits of assisting former prisoners attain “gainful” employment. A main theme throughout is the interrelationship between employment and other central conditions necessary for safety and sustenance.

This book offers suggestions for criminal record policy amendments and new reintegration practices that would assist individuals in the search for employment. Using the evidence and research findings of practitioners and scholars in social work, criminology and law, psychology, and other related fields, the contributors concentrate on strategies that will reduce the stigma of having been in prison; foster supportive relationships between social and legal agencies and prisons and parole systems; and encourage individually tailored resources and training following release of individuals.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781771123167
Publisher:	Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Publication date:	12/20/2017
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Rose Ricciardelli is an assistant professor at Memorial University. She has published in academic journals such as, Sex Roles, and Theoretical Criminology. Her research interests include evolving conceptualizations of masculinities, vulnerabilities and risk as well as experiences of prisoners, police, and correctional officers within different facets of the criminal justice system.Adrienne M.F. Peters is an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Her seminal research is a longitudinal study examining specialized probation for mentally disordered and serious-/violent young offenders. Research interests include: youth delinquency; mental health; correctional programming; policy; policing recruitment/training; and collaborative policing/crime reduction. She has presented on and co-authored publications in these areas.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction: Rose Ricciardelli, Don Evans, & Adrienne Peters

Section I — The Employment—Re-entry Enigma/Dilemma

1 Work after Prison: One Man's Transition: James Young

2 Employment and Desistance from Crime: Kemi S. Anazodo, Christopher Chan, and Rose Ricciardelli

3 Employment and Criminal Offenders with Mental Illness: Krystle Martin

Section II — Criminal Histories, Employment Prospects, and Moving Forward

4 Job Search, Suspended: Changes to Canada's Pardon Program and the Impact on Finding Employment: Samantha McAleese

5 Vulnerabilities and Barriers in Post-Release Employment Reintegration as Indicated by Parolees: Rose Ricciardelli and Taylor Mooney

Section III — Employment Reintegration Programming: Supportive Strategies and Related Outcomes

6 Is Criminal History at the Time of Employment Predictive of Job Performance? A Comparison of Disciplinary Actions and Terminations in a Sample of Production Workers: Mike G. Harmon, Laura J. Hickman, Alexandra M. Arneson, and Ashley M. Hansen

7 Transforming Rehabilitation: A Critical Evaluation of Barriers Encountered by an Offender Rehabilitation Program for South Asian/Muslim Offenders within the New Probation Service Model: Christine Victoria Hough

8 Promoting Employment Opportunities through Mentorship for Gang-Involved Youth Reintegrating into the Community: Adrienne M.F. Peters

9 Barriers to Community Reintegration: The Benefits of Client-Centered Case Management and Pre-employment Skills Training: Ashley Brown

Section IV — The Employment Reintegration of Unique Populations

10 “Between a Rock and Hard Place”: How Being a “Convict” Hinders Finding Work in the Neoliberal, Late Capitalist Economy: Dale C. Spencer

11 Does the “Wrongful” Part of Wrongful Conviction Make a Difference in the Job Market?: Kimberley A. Clow

Conclusion: Employment Reintegration: Rose Ricciardelli & Adrienne Peters

Contributors

Rose Ricciardelli, Memorial University, St. John's, NL

Donald G. Evans, John Howard Society, Toronto, ON

Adrienne Peters, Memorial University, St. John's, NL

James Young [undisclosed; former prisoner]

Kemi S. Anazodo, York University, Toronto, ON

Christopher Chan, York University, Toronto, ON

Krystle Martin, Ontario Institute for Mental Health Treatment, Toronto, ON

Samantha McAleese, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON

Taylor Mooney, Memorial University, St. John's, NL

Mike G. Harmon, Portland State University, Portland, OR

Laura J. Hickman, Portland State University, Portland, OR

Alexandra M. Arneson, Portland State University, Portland, OR

Ashley M. Hansen, Portland State University, Portland, OR

Christine Victoria Hough, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK

Ashley Brown, John Howard Society, Toronto, ON

Dale C. Spencer, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON

Kimberley A. Clow, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, ON

Editorial Reviews

After Prison is a frank assessment of hard realities....[an] appeal to a society that still believes in second chances.

Blacklock's Reporter - Holly Doan