NCJ Number
219512
Journal
Federal Probation: A Journal of Correctional Philosophy and Practice Volume: 71 Issue: 1 Dated: June 2007 Pages: 20-30
Date Published
June 2007
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study explored landlords’ perspectives toward renting to released criminal offenders.
Abstract
It is undisputed that finding housing is a significant hurdle for many released offenders. However, this survey shows that a criminal history may not be the most important issue for landlords in the city of Akron, OH. The analysis of the data shows that there are landlords willing to consider applicants with certain kinds of criminal backgrounds. The decision to lease is based upon many factors, including credit, income, employment, rental history, and criminal background. Each of these factors, as well as others, represents a basis for the landlord to develop a sense of trust in the applicant’s ability and willingness to comply with lease requirements and certain standards of behavior. While the survey shows that eviction history, employment, and income are the critical factors considered by landlords, for released offenders, rehabilitation is also important. Prior research has focused on the barriers offenders face in trying to find employment, housing, life stability, solutions for homelessness, or community reentry programs. Housing is often cited as a hurdle to successful reentry, but little research has been done to identify the actual boundaries of this hurdle. The results indicate the need to develop new approaches to reentry programs and to perform future research. Tables, references and exhibit