Tips for Gauging Rehabilitation and Desistance

As researcher and criminologist Alfred Blumstein has stated, there is no “risk free” hire. Every job applicant poses a potential risk to employers, whether or not he or she has criminal record. Nonetheless, employers who interview job applicants with a criminal record may want to gauge whether such applicants will pose a risk to the work place because of their criminal record. To do so, employers are best-advised to look for: - evidence of rehabilitation - factors supporting desistance

Looking for evidence of rehabilitation and factors supporting desistance is not a scientific or mechanical endeavor. It requires the employer to use the interview to get to know the applicant and to establish a rapport. Every person is different, which means that gauging rehabilitation and desistance will be different for every applicant. Below are some things to consider:

Evidence of rehabilitation can include: - family involvement - participation in or completion of treatment or counseling - participation in or completion of a vocational or reentry program - participation in or completion of a group program or counseling (such as domestic violence or anger management programs) - participation in a faith community - volunteer work - participation in community organizations - employment - education (high school, GED, college)

Desistance factors can include: - applicant is a one-time offender - crime occurred when applicant was young and immature - maturity: the applicant has “aged out” of negative behavior - applicant has a positive self-image - applicant has positive goals - applicant has experienced transformative event(s) since the crime (completion of treatment; obtainment of educational degree; marriage; birth of child; desire never again to be incarcerated, etc.) - applicant has a sense responsibility toward self and others - applicant has a sense of community and a desire to “give back” or to make a positive contribution - applicant has accepted need to work within societal conventions - applicant has a positive social network

Center for Community Alternatives 115 East Jefferson Street, Suite 300, Syracuse, NY 13202 (315) 422-5638