Getting Out and Staying Out: A Study of Recidivism and Ex-Offender Employability in Springfield, Missouri

Incarceration and recidivism rates have increased dramatically since the 1980s, and many factors have been suggested to increase the recidivism rate. One of these factors is unemployment. This research project uses quantitative data gathering and ethnography to study ex-offenders in Springfield, Missouri to answer two related questions: Does employment affect the recidivism rate? Does being an ex-offender affect employability? The findings revealed by this research show that employment has an effect on successful desistance from crime and an effect on recidivism, and also that being an ex-offender does affect employability. Recommendations on how to reduce the recidivism rate, such as reducing probation and parole officers\u27 caseloads, are discussed