Presentation Title

Barriers to the Success of Ex-Offenders with Histories of Drug Abuse and Mental Illness

Panel Name

Inequality in the U.S. Today: Seeking Justice, Equality, Treatment, and Redemption

Location

Lecture Center 5

Start Date

3-5-2019 3:15 PM

End Date

3-5-2019 4:45 PM

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Academic Major

Sociology

Abstract

April Sickler

Barriers to the Success of Ex-Offenders with Histories of Drug Abuse and Mental Illness

Abstract:

The purpose of my research is to review the scholarly literature on the difficulties that offenders who are released from prison confront when trying to find employment. This is a particularly important topic in the contemporary U. S. given the recent history of mass incarceration and mistreatment of ex-offenders with histories of drug use/abuse and mental illness. A combination of these attributes can serve as a particularly large barrier to success in finding post-release employment. My analysis of the literature focuses on the following questions. What are the major obstacles that make it difficult for released offenders to secure employment? Are the obstacles to gaining employment particularly severe for released offenders with drug use/abuse or mental illness? What services are currently in place to assist released offenders in seeking employment, and how well are these services realizing their objectives? I conclude by considering the implications of the research literature for the most promising strategies for alleviating the problems of post-release employment.

Select Where This Work Originated From

Honors College Thesis

First Faculty Advisor

Steven Messner

First Advisor Email

smessner@albany.edu

First Advisor Department

Sociology

Second Faculty Advisor

Angie Chung

Second Faculty Advisor Email

aychung@albany.edu

Second Advisor Department

Sociology

The work you will be presenting can best be described as

Finished or mostly finished by conference date

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May 3rd, 3:15 PM May 3rd, 4:45 PM

Barriers to the Success of Ex-Offenders with Histories of Drug Abuse and Mental Illness

Lecture Center 5

April Sickler

Barriers to the Success of Ex-Offenders with Histories of Drug Abuse and Mental Illness

Abstract:

The purpose of my research is to review the scholarly literature on the difficulties that offenders who are released from prison confront when trying to find employment. This is a particularly important topic in the contemporary U. S. given the recent history of mass incarceration and mistreatment of ex-offenders with histories of drug use/abuse and mental illness. A combination of these attributes can serve as a particularly large barrier to success in finding post-release employment. My analysis of the literature focuses on the following questions. What are the major obstacles that make it difficult for released offenders to secure employment? Are the obstacles to gaining employment particularly severe for released offenders with drug use/abuse or mental illness? What services are currently in place to assist released offenders in seeking employment, and how well are these services realizing their objectives? I conclude by considering the implications of the research literature for the most promising strategies for alleviating the problems of post-release employment.