Career Prospects for People with Criminal Records: Certification, Background Checks, and Stigma

Is improving career prospects through federal policies working? What can we learn from state and local policies?

In this Events @ RAND podcast based on the Career Prospects for People with Criminal Records Symposium held at RAND in 2019, Peter Leasure, Michael Vuolo, and Naomi F. Sugie present evidence from employer and job-seeker studies on Ban-the-Box, Certificates of Relief, and background checks. Economist Priscillia Hunt hosts.

This is part two in a four-part series. Part one is available here, part three is available here, and part four is available here.

Featured Speakers

Peter Leasure

Peter Leasure, J.D.

Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
York College of Pennsylvania

Michael Vuolo

Michael Vuolo, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Sociology
Ohio State University

Naomi Sugie

Naomi F. Sugie, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Criminology, Law and Society
University of California at Irvine

Learn More

  • Episode 1 of Career Prospects for People with Criminal Records

    How Do People Stop Committing Crimes?

    In this Events @ RAND podcast based on the Career Prospects for People with Criminal Records Symposium held at RAND in 2019, senior policy researcher Shawn D. Bushway explains the concept of desistance, or how and when people with criminal records stop offending.

    Jul 8, 2020

  • Practitioners’ Views on Barriers and Opportunities

    In this Events @ RAND podcast based on the Career Prospects for People with Criminal Records Symposium held at RAND in 2019, Joshua Miller, Toney L. Earl Jr., Tony Lewis Jr., and Andrew Morton discuss strategies for overcoming barriers and improving employment outcomes through reentry, community supervision, and employer-driven programs.

    Jul 22, 2020

  • From the Community Corrections Lens

    In this Events @ RAND podcast based on the Career Prospects for People with Criminal Records Symposium held at RAND in 2019, Veronica Cunningham and Nicole Jarrett offer their perspectives on the next steps that policymakers, practitioners, and employers can take to equalize employment opportunities for individuals with criminal records. RAND's Dionne Barnes-Proby hosts.

    Jul 29, 2020

  • Prospective candidates waiting for a job interview

    How to Incentivize Employers to Hire Ex-Offenders

    People with criminal records are marginalized in the labor market. What policies might incentivize employers to hire them? Some options include tax credits and replacement guarantees if an ex-offender proves to be unsuitable once hired.

    Jan 15, 2018

    Priscillia Hunt, Rosanna Smart , et al.