Bottom Line Reasons Businesses Should Hire Ex-Convicts

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There is no better time than now to get criminals off the streets and reduce the unemployment rate. There are more than 70 million Americans with criminal records and a large number of them are jobless. Employers today not only have an opportunity to give these ex-convicts a second chance but to improve society as a whole by getting them off the streets. The recidivism rates would drop significantly if these men and women had jobs. Without jobs the ex-convicts often find themselves down the same path as before. This cycle is not only hurting the criminals lives further but it hurts both society and the economy as a whole.

Businesses have a golden opportunity to hire employees that are proven to not only save money but are just as reliable as other employees which reduces turnover rate. As Mike Green of the Huffington Post put it  “Ex-felons have far fewer options than conventional employees. Due to the scarcity of opportunities for ex-felons, many employers that hire them have lower turnover than with conventional hires.” Having a high turnover rate within a business can be detrimental to its growth. If employers are constantly having to worry about hiring people who won’t leave it can take take their attention away from other important matters. If business owners are concerned that this ex convicts will steal or hurt their image, look at a study conducted by the University of Maryland in 2009 that concluded people with a record are at no greater criminal risk after they’ve been out seven to ten years than those with no record.

In terms of direct incentives, hiring ex convicts would first off, get rid of the slackers who want nothing to do but leave the office. The ex convicts who are able to get jobs are proven to be hard working and grateful for the opportunity given to them. Often times, they are out to prove society and certain people wrong because it can be difficult to see someone as a good person if they’ve been in prison. Along with this are the bottom line incentives that include substantial tax credits for businesses. Some states even provide partial wage reimbursement, additional tax credits, and other training funds for employers who hire ex-felons.