U. of Houston, Bauer College of Business, United States
Formerly incarcerated job seekers continue to face challenges in obtaining support for employment, with most remaining unemployed within the first year after release from prison. Research suggests that one explanation for these challenges may be negative stereotypes about their moral character and competence. Integrating theory and research on criminal stigma and impression formation processes, we suggest that individuating information about educational accomplishments and work experiences during incarceration can help the job seekers be more fairly evaluated based on personal traits rather than simply their criminal history and ultimately enhance social support from others. Drawing on implicit-theory models, we highlight that individuals’ beliefs about people’s capacity for change may serve as a boundary condition for the effects of individuating information, as implicit theories can shape attention and interpretation processes. We examine our theoretical model in three complementary studies: qualitative study with hiring managers, a pre-registered audit experiment with state legislators (n = 4,902), and an experimental vignette study (n = 501). Our results contribute to theory on the reputational implications of criminal records, impression management, and employment discrimination. Additionally, our findings have implications for policy and practices intended to promote successful reintegration.
