Employment Challenges Faced by People with Criminal Histories

People with criminal histories face many challenges in the labor market. How do the employment outcomes of people with criminal histories compare to those without? Which public policies best promote the reintegration of people with criminal histories into the workforce? Drawing upon data from U.S. household surveys and the extensive body of research exploring the employment challenges faced by people with criminal histories, I first document the employment challenges faced by those most likely to be involved with the criminal justice system. I then review research pertaining to policies intended to improve employment prospects for those with official criminal records.