 Each year, 30,000 people leave Illinois prisons after completing their
sentences. They’ve made mistakes and served their time. But upon release, the
biggest challenge they face will be getting back on their feet and staying out
of crime.
Studies show that as many 60 to 75 percent of ex-offenders are unemployed a year
after leaving prison. Many factors contribute to this. There are few
opportunities, for example, to build job skills while incarcerated. And
understandably, some employers may be reluctant to hire employees with criminal
records.
But one major problem is that too often government stands in the way, impinging
on the economic freedom that can provide solutions to post-incarceration
underemployment and joblessness.
In Illinois, at least 118 professional and business licenses can be denied to an
applicant with a criminal record. And given that a quarter of all jobs in the
state require an occupational license, ex-offenders can find themselves shut out
of a significant number of jobs. State licensing boards can deny people with
records the right to work as a barber, real estate agent, roofer, dance hall
operator and hundreds of other occupations. These restrictions even prevent some
ex-offenders who have been unable to obtain employment from starting their own
businesses.
Lisa Creason, a single mother of three, is one victim of restrictive licensing
rules. Like all parents, Lisa wants to provide a better life for her children.
She aspired to become a nurse and, with the higher earnings a career in nursing
would bring, get off public assistance and move to a safer neighborhood. She
went to school while working as a certified nursing assistant, and graduated in
2012.
But because she had a 20-year-old criminal record for robbery, she was denied
the license. When Lisa was 19, she tried to steal money from a Subway cash
register to get food for her daughter. She paid the price for her crime, serving
part of a three-year prison sentence before getting out on work release. But
because of her past mistake, she was denied the opportunity to work – over 20
years later.
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 But Lisa was determined to change the law to allow her, and
others in her situation, to become a nurse. That bill passed the
Illinois General Assembly and is now awaiting signature by the
governor.
But Lisa is a rare example of success. Not everyone has the time
or resources to lobby government for the right to earn a living.
Yet, everyone benefits when more former offenders can find
employment. In Illinois, 48 percent of ex-offenders return to prison
within three years of release. But according to one study, among
those who found jobs and kept them for at least 30 days, just 16
percent returned to prison.
There’s strong evidence increased employment among offenders will
reduce the burden of taxpayer spending on crime, too. Illinois
spends an average of $118,746 on every act of recidivism, according
to the Sentencing Policy Advisory Council. That can add up to
billions over several years.
But if increased work opportunities even led to just a 5 percent
reduction in recidivism, Illinois would save over $541 million over
nine years in criminal-justice spending, victimization costs and
lost economic activity. With the opportunity to work or create a
business, thousands more would be better able to turn their lives
around to make positive contributions in their communities.
The movement for criminal-justice reform depends on allowing former
offenders the chance, like everyone else, to earn a living. Most
people with records want to work and provide for their families.
Economic freedom is the key.
The Atlas Network originally published this article.
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