Educated and Unemployed: A Case Study to Understand the Challenges Formerly Incarcerated Individuals Face After Release

The purpose of this qualitative intrinsic case study was to understand the phenomenon of formerly incarcerated individuals who have received a postsecondary degree while incarcerated, yet were unable to obtain employment that was commensurate to the degree earned. Sixteen participants in the United States were recruited for this study. Formerly incarcerated individuals and prospective employers gave insight and examined why formerly incarcerated individuals have an enormous number of issues obtaining employment after reintegration. The Tadros theory of change provided a theoretical lens for this inquiry and gave understanding of the changes that the formerly incarcerated needed while incarcerated to accomplish and obtain an education to ensure sustainability once reintegrated into society. The theory highlighted legal, environmental, and societal changes that will also be necessary for the sustainability of the formerly incarcerated. As an incarcerated individual, recognizing the need to enhance human capital is essential; therefore, accomplishing the completion of a degree in higher education builds that human capital with the hope of finding employment commensurate to the degree earned. The data collection included interviews, focus groups, and analysis of statistical and national archival reports that shed light on this phenomenon. Codes emerging from the data were developed into themes to create an understanding of this phenomenon. The data was synthesized, following the method outlined by Yin through thematic, narrative, and content analysis. Themes emerged throughout this study included the need for a postsecondary degree and the willingness to employ formerly incarcerated individuals.