Race, Employment and a Criminal Record: Devah Pager

Summary

The video explores the challenges faced by formerly incarcerated individuals, particularly focusing on how criminal records affect job prospects and how race exacerbates these difficulties. An experiment shows that ex-offenders face significant hurdles in employment, with Black applicants facing higher discrimination, even without a criminal record. The study highlights the critical need to address racial disparities and support ex-offenders in finding jobs to reduce recidivism. It suggests reforms like banning the box on job applications to allow fairer assessments and underscores the impact of mass incarceration on racial inequality in the U.S.

Takeaways

• 📈 The United States has over 2 million people incarcerated and the highest incarceration rate in the world.
• 🚪 Each year, over 700,000 individuals are released from prison, facing difficulties reintegrating into society and finding jobs.
• 🔍 A study was conducted to examine how having a criminal record affects job prospects, particularly in relation to race.
• 📉 Ex-offenders face poor employment outcomes due to factors like low education, inconsistent work history, and mental health issues.
• 👨‍🔬 The study used an experimental audit with matched pairs of job applicants, differing only in race and criminal record, to isolate the effect of a felony conviction.
• ⚖️ Results showed that white applicants with no criminal record were called back for jobs at double the rate of whites with a record (34% vs. 17%).
• ⚠️ Black applicants with no criminal record had lower callback rates than whites, and those with a record faced even worse outcomes (14% vs. 5%).
• ❗ A surprising finding was that white applicants with a criminal record fared better than black applicants with no criminal record.
• 📊 Racial disparities in incarceration are vast, with 12% of young Black men incarcerated at any given time, compared to less than 2% of young white men.
• 📋 The study advocates for 'ban the box' policies, which allow ex-offenders to interact with employers before revealing their criminal history, improving their employment chances.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the script?

The main issue discussed is mass incarceration in the United States and its impact on prisoner re-entry, particularly how a criminal record affects employment opportunities, especially when considering race.

How many people are incarcerated in the United States, according to the script?

There are currently more than 2 million people incarcerated in the United States.

How does the U.S. incarceration rate compare globally?

The United States has the highest rate of incarceration in the world.

What challenge do the 700,000 people released from prison each year face?

These individuals struggle to find work and reintegrate into society after being released from prison.

What was the aim of the experiment mentioned in the script?

The aim of the experiment was to examine how having a criminal record influences an individual’s chances of finding a job and how that process may differ based on race.

What is an experimental audit study, as described in the script?

An experimental audit study involves sending matched pairs of job applicants (or testers) to apply for real job openings to observe how employers respond to applicants who are otherwise equally qualified but differ by certain characteristics, such as race or criminal background.

What were the main findings of the study regarding white applicants?

The study found that about 34% of white applicants with no criminal record received callbacks or job offers, while only 17% of whites with a criminal record received callbacks, indicating that a criminal record reduces job opportunities by about 50% for white applicants.

How did black applicants fare compared to white applicants in the study?

Black applicants without a criminal record received callbacks at only 14%, compared to 34% for white applicants without a criminal record. Black applicants with a criminal record received callbacks at just 5%.

What surprising finding did the study reveal about race and criminal records?

The study revealed that a white applicant with a felony conviction had about the same chances of getting a job as a black applicant with no criminal record, showing that race can play a role as significant as a criminal record in employment outcomes.

What is 'ban the box,' and how does it help ex-offenders?

'Ban the box' refers to removing the question about criminal records from job applications. This gives applicants a chance to make a personal impression on employers before being judged based on their criminal record, improving their employment outcomes.