• Let's start with some perspective: 33 percent. That is the proportion of working-age Americans with a criminal record. Each year, approximately 650,000 people are released from prison, about the same as Memphis, TN, or Portland, OR population. Of course, all of their offenses are not equal, but before hastily deciding whether you would hire somebody with a record, it helps to consider just how many people have this label. 
• Many hiring managers and companies have knee-jerk reactions to exclude such candidates, as reflected on many applications with the infamous box, "Have you ever been convicted of a crime? Yes or No." When job markets are flush with candidates, excluding these candidates may not be such a problem. However, many companies across industries might think differently when the job market is hot and labor is tight. And, of course, some companies, industries, and geographies are confronted with seemingly eternal talent shortages regardless of the economy. This means such exclusionary policies may shrink an already small talent pool. 
• Putting the economy and labor market aside, individuals and companies, excluding those with records, typically do so to limit their liability and ensure employee and customer safety. On the other side of this argument are those who feel people should be given a second chance: they've paid their debt to society. Research done by the Society of Human Resource Management found the three top reasons reported for hiring candidates with criminal records were: (1) desire to hire the best available candidate, (2) giving workers a second chance, and (3) improving the community. 
• Many have argued it is unfair for criminals to be forever handicapped in the job market because of a past offense. This has led many states and cities to "ban the box" and require companies to wait until a hiring decision has been made before doing a criminal record check. On the other side of this argument is that waiting until late in the hiring process costs companies and individuals time and money. Therefore, they should be allowed to gather and consider that information initially. 
• What is the problem?
• What are the causes behind the problem? 
• What solutions do you propose? 

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The problem highlighted in the sources is the significant barriers faced by individuals with criminal records when seeking employment Despite efforts ... View the full answer