CNL525_T8_Marginalized Group Career Counseling Paper

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From Prison to Workforce: Career Counseling for Former Inmates College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Grand Canyon University CNL-525: Career Counseling September 6 th , 2023 From Prison to Workforce: Career Counseling for Former Inmates

When incarcerated individuals are released from prison, they face a seemingly insurmountable set of problems as they attempt to transition into civilian society. It is estimated that 25% of people who are released will be arrested again within the same year - often due to poverty, mental illness, and substance use disorders; problems that are only exacerbated with incarceration (Sawyer & Wagner, 2023). Another factor is the barriers they face in gaining employment and starting a new, legitimate life. The following will provide a comprehensive look at the obstacles that former prisoners face in this process, what can be done to help, and the role that spirituality can play in changing an ex-prisoner’s worldview. The Need for Help Vocational wellbeing is an imperative component of successful reintegration of ex- offenders back into the civilian community; becoming healthy and contributing members of society who can live as a peaceful and productive citizen. Employment not only has been shown to decrease the likelihood of recidivism, but it also boosts the former inmate’s self-esteem, sense of identity, and provides them with necessary stability (Chen & Shields, 2020). However, reconstructing a life that is empowering and law-abiding is far from easy for ex-offenders and their prospects are bleak. Upon release, they may receive $20 and one set of civilian clothing to wear, perhaps a bus ticket back to the county where they were arrested if they are lucky. But almost immediately, it is up to them to arrange for transportation, food, and shelter in a world that is likely entirely unfamiliar from the one they left when they were first incarcerated (Smith, 2016). The odds are stacked against them, and the temptation to go back to what they knew (i.e., the life of crime - familiar people and fast money) may be far too great to avoid. The faster ex- offenders are connected with assistance such as counseling and resources upon release, the better

their chances for success. Counselors can help clients transitioning from incarceration to civilian life by facilitating career development, connecting ex-offenders with social supports/mentors, providing essential trauma-related care to work through painful experiences, and even teach professionals within the criminal justice system to provide empathetic support and start the change process with incarcerated individuals who are preparing for release (Smith, 2016). Statistics According to the National Institute of Justice, almost 80% of ex-prisoners will be rearrested within five years of their release (Smith, 2016). The likely correlation between this statistic and their difficulties in securing quality employment should not be overlooked. Over 60% of people who leave prison - a population disproportionately male and Black - are unemployed a year later despite actively seeking employment (Smith, 2023). It cannot be assumed that this is due to laziness or lack of effort. On any given day, it is estimated that one in three African-American men age 20–34 without a high school degree is in prison; over half go to prison at some point in their lives (Morenoff & Harding, 2014). It has been argued that the prison system has become a way of ensuring discrimination perseveres into modern times just as Jim Crow, and the ghetto did in the past, separating African-Americans from whites, marking Blacks as inferior, enabling exploitation and providing a source of cheap labor (Morenoff & Harding, 2014). Research by criminologists and economists has estimated that 64% of men currently unemployed have arrests on their records and that 46% have been convicted (Smith, 2023). That is to say that the majority of men who are unemployed have criminal backgrounds. To add to this, studies have shown that when ex-offenders do secure employment, they are paid substantially less than coworkers who do not have a criminal record, making the middle class unreachable (Smith, 2023). Incarcerated individuals who take advantage of career

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counseling and education programs can help themselves to avoid being one of these statistics. It has been found that inmates who engage in programs are 43% less likely than others to reoffend, and ultimately end up back in prison (Smith, 2023). Due to these outcomes, resources are becoming more available. In fact, it has been announced that the Justice and Labor Departments will be allocating $145 million of their budget to job training and reintegration services for inmates in federal prison (Smith, 2023). Career Counseling Theory When it comes to career development counseling for this population, it may be difficult for the clinical professional to know where to begin. It would be advisable to first choose a career counseling theory to employ. If the individual was incarcerated for a substantial amount of time, a person-environment model such as the theory of work adjustment would not be suggested, as the prison environment likely did not provide meaningful vocational influence. The client would be best served utilizing a vocational-personality typology such as Holland’s Theory of Vocational Choice and Adjustment. Holland’s theory is that people and environments can be categorized by six theoretical types. In the textbook Career development and counseling: Putting theory and research to work , authors Brown & Lent (2021) describe six personality types; realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, and conventional. Holland’s theory is that the interrelationships among the categories help to provide predictions about careers people will likely choose, how fulfilling their work will be, and the ease at which they will perform and make career decisions. Holland's theory was formed in a way that is user-friendly and easily measurable for efficacy and scientific evaluation. Thus, multitudes of studies conducted have examined aspects of Holland's theory, and it has been found to be applicable and effective for use on the general

population (Brown & Lent, 2021). While meta-analysis on the efficacy of utilizing Holland’s theory or the O*NET interest profiler specifically for the formerly incarcerated is not readily available, it does seem to be appropriate. Research that has been conducted on the experience of reintegration has found that focus should be on ex-offenders' needs for education, training, and experiential assistance; challenges they face in job attainment; and available support, including community networks and resources from the department of corrections (Shivy, et al., 2014). The O*NET interest profiler is a suitable tool and will provide insight into all these areas. Plan for Counseling The model of career counseling will be chosen after the interview. During the interview, the client will provide the practitioner with necessary demographic information, which will ultimately include what activities they were involved with that landed them in prison, along with how much time they served and the difficulties that lie ahead. If the clinician does find that Holland’s theory would be the optimum model to choose, then an assessment will be administered. An online test called the O*NET Interest Profiler (My Next Move, 2023) can be administered to discover the client’s Holland Code , which provides a score for each domain. The site offers potential careers that match their Holland Code, categorized into Job Zones based on education and experience needed. The career counselor will go over the results with the ex- offender to see what options are best suited to him or her based on their previous experience and resources available. There are five Job Zones, the first requires little to no preparation, and will likely include entry-level careers that the ex-offender will be accepted for, but they may not be lucrative or have future upward mobility. The second and third Job Zones include careers that take a little more preparation but may be more desirable. Careers such as manufacturing, transportation, and

construction may provide apprenticeships and on-the-job training that would be appealing to the transitioning client. The O*NET site offers a wide variety of options and provides information on the potential careers, including what salary range can be expected, and availability/demand of the career in the client’s geographical location (My Next Move, 2023). The counselor can aid the client in selecting a couple options and then investigate what it would take to make that career path a reality. Barriers to Obtaining Work An unfortunate truth is that obtaining meaningful employment is a formidable challenge for ex-offenders for a variety of reasons. Firstly, is their criminal record. Many employers have policies against hiring felons, for example. Another issue is lack of work experience. Many people wind up in prison due to turning to crime to support themselves and their families. Essentially, their criminal activity was their career, therefore they have little to no legitimate work history. Additionally, ex-offenders are two to four times more likely than the general population to have a substance abuse history, or other mental health issues (Smith, 2016). Large gaps in employment present a problem as well. Individuals may have been incarcerated anywhere from a year or two to decades. These obstacles may seem insurmountable to the ex- prisoner, and that is often the case. Clients who’ve been released from prison tend to ruminate on their past and focus on their problems (Smith, 2016). The counselor’s role is to turn that around and help to create a positive alternative narrative that is empowering to the individual. Employing a person-centered approach, counselors can utilize their knowledge, experience, and resources available to systematically dismantle the client’s beliefs about the world and themselves; show them that there are possibilities and options for them that do not involve illegal activity.

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Resources Available There is a plethora of resources available to help clients transition from prison to civilian life and obtain employment that the career counselor can recommend and connect them with. Below is just a sampling of options:  2nd Chances 4 Felons is a website that connects ex-offenders to staffing agencies and companies that hire felons and overcome barriers that they face due to their criminal history.  Apprenticeship.gov provides information on hands-on career training in trades such as construction and welding for justice-involved individuals.  CareerOneStop helps ex-offenders learn about careers, trainings, local help, and conduct a job search. There is a section to "Move past your criminal record," and links to an American Job Center Finder directory including temp agencies.  Felony Record Hub is a great resource for information on specific industries that provide felon friendly careers and includes valuable advice to felons on re- entering the workforce. Recommendations Clients who are transitioning from prison have substantial challenges to overcome if they are to maintain a productive and crime-free life and persevere past the temptation to re-offend. Engaging in career counseling and taking advantage of programs and resources available are of utmost importance, and the quicker after release they do so the less likely they are to have that dreaded outcome. The plan presented above is one that takes this into consideration. Showing the client tangible evidence that there are opportunities is vital. The O*NET interest profiler can give them insight into what they may want to embark on that they might actually enjoy doing and will

show them how feasible it would be to make that career a reality. The resources provided above can connect them with community support, education opportunities, and even mentors who have been where they are and made it out successfully. Of course, it is ultimately up to the individual, their beliefs, their willingness to utilize the help that has been provided to them, and ultimately their determination to stay out of prison. Spirituality Something to consider that can have a profound impact on the client’s reintegration process, including career choice, is religion and spiritual wellbeing. It is a common occurrence for inmates to turn to spirituality while they are incarcerated, and this will greatly affect their sense of self and worldview upon release. They may even find that they can integrate their prison experience into their career choice. That is to say that they may find a sense of purpose and a higher calling. In the Christian Education Journal article “Vocation and Lifelong Spiritual Formation: A Christian Integrative Perspective on Calling in Mid-career”, author Lemke (2020) discusses such callings as beginning with “a transcendent and personal God who invites individual humans and corporate humanity to respond to him” (para. 5). In a way, a calling is a divine intervention that drives an individual to strive to make meaning of their life and live in accordance with God’s will. Lemke (2020) goes on to explain that a calling is an ongoing process, and is future- oriented, and therefore Scripture, along with prayer, can provide guidance to an individual who is seeking a career path. This is exponentially more useful to someone who is overcoming the hardships endured from imprisonment, years substance abuse, and possible estrangement from family. Ex-offenders who are transitioning out of prison and have found a deep and meaningful relationship with God will have a more optimistic perspective and their hearts will be filled with

hope and love instead of fear and resentment. As Lemke puts it, “They involve a desire to serve God and others by using one’s gifts and talents in areas where God invites their use” (para. 16). In the case of a former inmate, their gift and talent might be their prison experience. For example, they may be pulled to get involved with the rehabilitation of inmates, helping them to find the peace and strength that carried them through it. Conclusion As grim as it may seem, and as insurmountable the obstacles may appear, there is hope for the formerly incarcerated; felonies and all. A checkered past and lack of support may make the temptation to return to a life of crime nearly impossible to resist but perspective, willingness, and determination make all the difference. The sooner ex-offenders get involved with career counseling, community resources, and engage in re-entry programs, the lower the chances of recidivism. If a transitioning individual has a positive outlook, and especially if they have already begun to change inside by gaining spirituality and a relationship with God. References Brown, S. & Lent, R. (2021). Career development and counseling: Putting theory and research

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to work (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 9781119580348 Chen, C. P., & Shields, B. (2020). Career counselling ex-offenders: Issues and interventions. Australian Journal of Career Development, 29 (1), 36–43. https://doi.org/10.1177/1038416219876367 Lemke, D. L. (2020). Vocation and Lifelong Spiritual Formation: A Christian Integrative Perspective on Calling in Mid-career. Christian Education Journal, 17 (2), 301–324. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1177/0739891320923562 Morenoff, J. & Harding, D. (2014). Incarceration, Prisoner Reentry, and Communities. Annu Rev Sociol . doi: 10.1146/annurev-soc-071811-145511. PMID: 25400321; PMCID: PMC4231529. My Next Move. (2023). O*NET Interest Profiler. U.S. Department of Labor . https://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip Sawyer, W. & Wagner, P. (2023). Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2023. Prison Policy Initiative. https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie2023.html Shivy, V. A., Wu, J. J., Moon, A. E., Mann, S. C., Holland, J. G., & Eacho, C. (2007). Ex- offenders reentering the workforce. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 54 (4), 466–473. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.54.4.466 Smith, K. (2016). Seeing people, not prisoners. American Counseling Association. https://ct.counseling.org/2016/09/seeing-people-not-prisoners/ Smith, T. (2023). Ex-Prisoners Face Headwinds as Job Seekers, Even as Openings Abound. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/06/business/economy/jobs-hiring- after-prison.html

CNL525_T8_Marginalized Group Career Counseling Paper

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