NCJ Number
207537
Date Published
April 2003
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This paper provides an overview of the legal and regulatory framework in New Jersey that impedes ex-inmates' successful reentry into the community.
Abstract
The paper's focus is on barriers to ex-offender employment, but attention is also given to public assistance, education, housing, parental rights, and voting. The major legal regulations that can adversely affect the securing of employment by ex-inmates are jobs that exclude persons with criminal convictions; exclusion of ex-offenders from some occupational licensing by the State; excessive conditions that result in drivers' license suspensions, which affect the ability to reach and perform jobs; the lack of protections against job discrimination based on criminal record; limitations on the expungement of criminal records; and the legal liability of negligent hiring that employers may incur from any damages caused by ex-offender employees. Options are outlined for mitigating the employment barriers for ex-offenders caused by the aforementioned legal barriers. Options are also suggested for reducing the adverse impacts on ex-offenders of identified legal barriers in public assistance, education, housing, parental rights, and voting and jury service. 99 footnotes