Date of Conferral

2-5-2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Human Services

Advisor

Barbara Benoliel

Abstract

Employment amongst previously incarcerated individuals is a concern of the criminal justice system because being employed is considered a mitigator of reincarceration. While there is research about the stigma of incarceration in gaining employment, little is known about the factors associated with individuals being able to find employment. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to identify whether there is a direct correlation between individual demographic features and employment status of individuals after 1 year or more of previously being incarcerated in North Carolina. General strain theory was the theoretical framework. The key research question focused on how release status (probation, parole, or postrelease) corelates to employment status after controlling for an individual’s age when they entered the criminal justice system, race, and gender. Archival data from the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections were analyzed using t tests and chi-square tests to examine the relationships. There were no significant correlations found among the data analyzed to indicate that release status is a factor in employment. The findings suggested little differentiation in employment opportunities among all those who had been incarcerated. The findings of this study may contribute to a positive social change by informing programming and planning for all being released from incarceration. These findings relate to relate to the social determinants of health by highlighting the role that systematic barriers and societal conditions, such as employment opportunities and stigma, play in shaping the health and socioeconomic outcomes of previously incarcerated individuals.

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