The Role of Work Integration Social Enterprise in Overcoming Barriers to Sustained Employment and Desistance for Criminalized Individuals

Abstract The importance of legitimate employment in supporting desistance has been consistently recognized, yet many of those with a significant criminal history face numerous barriers to participating in labour markets. This paper considers the value of work integration social enterprises (WISE) offering ‘supported employment’ for criminalized individuals. Interviews (n = 28) with criminalized individuals and other stakeholders based at three UK WISE, demonstrate that WISE provide a working environment that accommodates for complex needs, in addition to holistic support to help stabilize these, which can make sustained employment and desistance more achievable. Nonetheless, pervasive stigmatization of criminalized individuals, the structural conditions of contemporary labour markets and an increasingly competitive funding environment can undermine WISE’s social mission.