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Attitudes Toward Ex-Offenders - A Comparison of Social Stigmas

NCJ Number
85866
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 10 Issue: 5 Dated: (1982) Pages: 383-391
Author(s)
R J Homant; D B Kennedy
Date Published
1982
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Ex-offenders have experienced both a loss of certain civil rights and employment discrimination in the past and continuing research is necessary if their problems are to be dealt with effectively. One hundred eighty-three subjects, representing four occupational categories, were exposed to a personnel management problem involving either an ex-offender, an ex-mental patient, an obese person, or a neutral, nonstigmatized person in order to measure relative discrimination.
Abstract
The ex-offenders fared no worse than the others. There was a relationship, however, between subjects' occupational identification and degree of discrimination toward each of the stigmatized persons. Implications for criminal justice and social policy are discussed. (Author abstract)