Making Desistance Recognizable: How Ex-Offenders Can Signal Their Desistance From Crime to Employers by Strategic Design

Article

Reich, Suzanne E. 2023. "Making Desistance Recognizable: How Ex-Offenders Can Signal Their Desistance From Crime to Employers by Strategic Design ." The British Journal of Criminology: an international review of crime and society. 63 (5), p. 1274–1292. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azac094
Article Title

Making Desistance Recognizable: How Ex-Offenders Can Signal Their Desistance From Crime to Employers by Strategic Design

ERA Journal ID17028
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsReich, Suzanne E
Journal TitleThe British Journal of Criminology: an international review of crime and society
Journal Citation63 (5), p. 1274–1292
Number of Pages19
Year2023
PublisherOxford University Press
Place of PublicationUnited Kingdom
ISSN0007-0955
1464-3529
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azac094
Web Address (URL)https://academic.oup.com/bjc/advance-article/doi/10.1093/bjc/azac094/6974683?login=true
Abstract

One of the primary concerns employers hold about hiring an ex-offender is the potential reoffending risk they pose. However, criminological literature shows that an ex-offender may be able to mitigate employers’ concerns by signalling their desistance from crime. Less understood is how ex-offenders can signal their desistance to (a) make desistance recognizable and (2) communicate desistance signals that employers value. This article draws on the results from the second phase of an Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods study with a sample of Australian employers who participated in semi-structured interviews (n = 43). The findings show desistance signals can be communicated to employers via strategic design. These findings along with the theoretical and policy implications are then discussed.

Keywordsdesistance signalling, ex-offender employment, employers, redeemability
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020440202. Correctional theory, offender treatment and rehabilitation
440205. Criminological theories
Byline AffiliationsUniversity of Southern Queensland
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