NCJ Number
60526
Journal
Criminology Volume: 27 Issue: 2 Dated: (AUGUST 1979) Pages: 208-216
Date Published
1979
Length
9 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A CANADIAN STUDY INVESTIGATING THE LEGAL STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH SANCTIONS FOR THE POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA ARE PRESENTED IN TERMS OF DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS ON EMPLOYMENT POSSIBILITIES.
Abstract
LEGAL STIGMA MAY BE VIEWED AS AN INDIRECT CONSEQUENCES OF THE APPLICATION OF CRIMINAL SANCTIONS. NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME OF A CHARGE, AN ACCUSED ACQUIRES A CRIMINAL HISTORY; THE EXTENT TO WHICH THIS 'CRIMINAL' LABEL PERSISTS BEYOND THE SANCTIONING STAGE IS THE SUBJECT OF THIS STUDY. THE SAMPLE CONSISTED OF 120 EMPLOYERS ADVERTISING VACANT POSITIONS IN A LARGE CITY'S MAJOR NEWSPAPERS. ONLY UNSKILLED OR SEMISKILLED OCCUPATIONS WHICH HAD SOME ELEMENT OF 'SECURITY' INVOLVED WERE SELECTED. A PHONE CALL TO THE POTENTIAL EMPLOYER WAS THE PRIMARY MEANS OF DATA COLLECTION. THREE EXPERIMENTAL CONDITIONS WERE EMPLOYED: THE CALLER PRESENTED NO CRIMINAL RECORD, THE CALLER PRESENTED A CONVICTION RECORD INVOLVING POSSESSION WITH A FINE, OR THE CALLER PRESENTED EVIDENCE OF ABSOLUTE DISCHARGE. EACH DAY, TWO CALLERS, PURPORTING TO BE 26-YEAR-OLD SINGLE MEN WITH 12 YEARS OF EDUCATION, AND WITH SIMILAR PREVIOUS JOB EXPERIENCE, INQUIRED ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF THE ADVERTISED POSITIONS. IN THE NO-RECORD CONDITION, THE CALLER ASKED IF IT WAS WORTH APPLYING, RECORDED THE RESPONSE, AND TERMINATED THE CALL. IN THE CASES OF CRIMINAL HISTORIES, THE CALLER STIPULATED THE SUPPOSED DISPOSITION, ASKED IF HE SHOULD APPLY, AND RECORDED THE RESPONSE. INVESTIGATION RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE MORE SERIOUS A PERSON'S CRIMINAL HISTORY INVOLVING MARIJUANA, THE FEWER POSITIVE RESPONSES WERE RECEIVED FROM POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS. POSITIONS REQUIRING BONDING RECEIVED FEWER ACCEPTANCES THAN THOSE THAT MADE NO SUCH SPECIFICATION. THIS STUDY AND PREVIOUS WORKS SUGGEST THAT LEGAL STIGMA FROM A CRIMINAL RECORD MAY AFFECT EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND EVEN NONJAIL PENALTIES MAY HAVE NEGATIVE REPERCUSSIONS FOR FUTURE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. RREFERENCES AND NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LWM)