Unemployment and Recidivism - Essay Example

? Unemployment and Recidivism Introduction There is a thin border between unemployment and recidivism. No job-no money-no chance to survive…This triple statement disturbs the minds of modern generation. Unfortunately, this is a difficult task to correct the mind of the criminal, but, on the other hand, an ordinary individual had once fallen down from the slippery slope and now he needs a hand of help. So, it is on behalf of the governmental institutions to become a savior to save the spoiled minds and souls of the criminals. The society has a perfect chance to correct the destiny of an ex-criminal, who spent 2-3 years in prison, and now wants to recover and reenter the society. The costs and benefits of crimes can be reassessed by the ex-criminals in two different ways. On their release, ex offenders would have an opportunity to work and contribute much to their families and legitimate labor market. Moreover, this is the way to an ideal criminal justice system. In accordance with recent statistical data: “rates of recidivism necessarily rise thereafter, so that upwards of 75%–80% of released prisoners are likely to be re-arrested within a decade of release” (Gurmu, William, 2006). It cannot be argued that the modern society make ex-offenders to come full circle. It is hard to imagine that for the majority of men the doors of a prison are opening several times. To analyze why imprisonment happens and turns into recidivism, the concept of unemployment is often applied. It is appropriate to take into account theoretical and practical aspects of relationship between recidivism and unemployment. It will be argued that employment is a key decisive factor for the problem of unemployment. Background for the study Numerous researchers claim that ex-offenders have the only one decisive point for their inner release, which is employment. Why not to create a plenty of places for employment? Young adults, who do not have a constant job, are often arrested. Their actions are motivated, because these guys do not have any opportunity to feed their families and there is no doubt that these people are looking for different chances of providing their families with food. Employment and education are often correlated in a holistic unification, which reduces the number of recidivism cases. Employment quality is often compared with the levels of recidivism. Lockwood et al (2012) in their study found out that the level of employment in early adulthood is a perfect option to reduce criminal behavior afterwards. On the one hand, there is a clear connection between money and a potential criminal behavior. Nevertheless, social conditions of life of a potential offender cannot be denied too. For example, when a child leaves with his/her parents in the family, which has no money, then a child subconsciously wants to earn more in order to live the rest of his life in better conditions. Therefore, it is evident that a good job is one of the main interests in life for almost all members of the society. Job stability is important for crime desistance and we can see that social issues and the issues of criminology are perfectly correlated. It is obvious that ex-offenders should not be offered a job, they should be offered a stable job and there is no doubt about that. Employment opportunities and different programs, which are focused on effective employment, should not neglect the interests of ex-offenders. Scott (2010) in his research goes even further and underlines that “human capital development (jobs and job skills)” bring more positive results than mere punitive interventions” (Scott, 2010). We can suggest that employment programs with the core sociological issues are very important for current ex criminals. These people need not only money, but support and understanding. It is evident that their families are on the way of looking for better lives and there is no doubt that their help and support together with disposing employment programs, developed for the ex offenders, can create a stable basis for their prosperous functioning in the society. Scott (2010) was focused on 16 employment programs, which combined a social aspect and job assistance for ex-offenders. In the result of this study it was found out that employment training and community-based assistance for ex-offenders reduced recidivism to the greatest extent. Actually, employment as a key element in reduction recidivism has been known for years. It is evident that this approach should be better studied. There is a lack of researches and studies, which are focused on offenders’ focus groups, because in the majority of cases statistical data do not provide a real state of affairs in the relationship between recidivism and employment. Therefore, there is a need to conduct research and studies, which provide more details in this field. It is possible to outline a potentially beneficial model for further research: the majority of offenders had their own job before they committed suicide (Lockwood, 2012). Nevertheless, when they did a criminal action, it is relevant to know, what was their motivation, actually? Moreover, it is relevant to focus on their lives in prison, because something can happen there and the majority of ex-offenders will be prevented from further job search because of their personal offenses or traumas. Overall, in accordance with researches and studies in this field: “The vast majority regarded employment as "important," especially if they wanted to "go straight" and to avoid a return trip to prison. At the very least their active participation in the labor market would satisfy technical conditions of parole. Still, to many former offenders a job would help to repair their frayed familial relations, friendships, and finances, and so would minimize their opportunities and inducements to engage in criminal behavior” (Weiman, 2007). As far as we can see, the options of employment are considered from different perspectives by ex-offenders. They consider it not only the means for survival; they are also focused on social bounds and privileges, which are activated once they found the job. In spite of the fact that ex-offenders express a positive attitude to the option of employment, they are not sure in their employability. More than 60% of ex-offenders think that it would be difficult for them to find job after release. The point is that the current labor market sets the trends for employment and there are many potential impediments, which can exert a negative influence on potential employability of ex-offenders. Therefore, both social and political factors should be taken into account when discussing this relationship between employment and the level of recidivism. Employment-based programs are on the way of development and it should be noted that different types of programs should be worked out in order to find the best matching way of their realization with respect to the needs of ex-offenders and the society in general. Respectively, it is often mentioned that incarceration costs are very high and there is a rapid growth of governmental expenses spent on dealing with recidivism reduction. The issue of employment as a key factor in recidivism problem solving cedes on the following issues: responsibility development, personal value increase, independence and dignity improvement, and a stake in the society. Therefore, it is relevant to take into account appropriate methodology and strategy of research. On the basis of the suggested issues for the discussion, it is possible to claim that we should implement both qualitative and quantitative research methods. It can be explained by the fact that theoretical developments in this field should be properly considered before making some analysis of statistical data. In case of any result reached, considered data should be correlated with theoretical background in order to make reliable conclusions. Therefore, it is possible to make questionnaires and conduct anonymous polls among ex-offenders and ask them about their job opportunities. Furthermore, it is possible to collect data from data of the communities or institutions, which deal with control and analysis of ex-offenders’ activities. It is evident that this type of research requires time and relevant resources. Therefore, it will take me several months to conduct both theoretical investigations and practical collection and data analysis. This research evokes numerous ethical and political concerns. Therefore, it is necessary to offer the recipients opportunity of anonymous participation and take into account that the majority of supposed recipients would refuse. As a rule, ex-offenders remain reserved persons because of their ex way of life. Nevertheless, the issue of employment should be positioned as the main and a key decisive factor for recidivism problem solving. In the research we will claim that employment is a key component for the successful social integration of ex-criminals, which requires some changes in their lives, overcoming of different barriers and improvement of political, economic and social conditions.   Therefore, future research project will be focused on filling in the gaps in the study of relationship between recidivism and employment. Both critical concerns of criminology and sociology are referred in the given research proposal. Consequently, this research implies social, economic, political and ethical issues to solve the problem of recidivism by employment. References Gurmu, S. S., William, J., 2006. Recidivism among Welfare Recipients: The Role of Neighborhood and Access to Employment. Atlantic Economic Journal, 34,4. Lockwood, N. J., et al, 2012. An Evaluation of the Effect of Correctional Education Programs on Post-Release Recidivism and Employment: An Empirical Study in Indiana. Journal of Correctional Education, 63,1. Pager, D., 2007.  Marked: Race, Crime, and Finding Work in an Era of Mass Incarceration. Chicago, University of Chicago Press. Scott, T. L., 2010, Offender Perceptions on the Value of Employment. Journal of Correctional Education, 61, 1.   Weiman, D. F., 2007. Barriers to Prisoners' Reentry into the Labor Market and the Social Costs of Recidivism. Social Research, 74, 2. Read More