Crime and Work

Community breakdown

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Greater labor market opportunities result in lower crime rates, a clear link that is often ignored in policy debates on crime reduction. This study examines the labor market characteristics of the offender/ex-offender population and the labor market conditions these potential workers face. It identifies ex-offenders as a distinctly disadvantaged subset of the low-wage workforce : they have little education, weak job histories, and weak labor market attachment, plus the additional penalty of a criminal record. Even at a time when the overall economy is growing, workers in this sector face higher levels of un- and underemployment. This monograph argues fuller employment for ex-inmates will need innovative labor market solutions, including increases in the minimum wage, more education and training, and the expansion of work supports such as the Earned Income Tax Credit.