E: Community Supervision
1: People with criminal convictions face substantial legal and logistical barriers in obtaining a job.
Barriers to work faced by re-entering individuals include the stigma of a criminal record, spotty work histories, low education and skill levels, and physical and mental health problems. [1] Many individuals also lack necessary identification documents, access to transportation, and childcare for dependent children. To a lesser extent, many recently released prisoners have unstable housing situations that may prevent access to employment. Policies, such as restrictions on the type of employment an individual can obtain, and practices of supervision agencies may pose additional obstacles to obtaining and retaining employment for those under supervision. Predetermined reporting requirements and supervision fees may be particularly burdensome.
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Harry J. Holzer, Steven Raphael, and Michael A. Stoll, "Employment Barriers Facing Ex-Offenders" (paper presented at The Urban Institute's Reentry Roundtable, Washington, DC, May 19-20, 2003).
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