Why to utilize returning citizens in tech
Preface:
As of June 2020, the United States has the highest prisoners per capita of ANY other country & when we aren’t at the top of the list we are usually in the top 3. Nearly all of those who are incarcerated will be released back into society. In 2016 almost 7 million people were under the blanket of the corrections industry i.e. incarcerated, probation or parole. These individuals often have minimal preparation and inadequate assistance for reentering society
Problems faced:
I want to take a second to highlight SOME of the problems these people face.
Housing/Homelessness:
- Most return to live with family & friends while many did not rely on them prior to incarceration. Most leave with little to no finances, securing a place to live apart from family is nearly impossible.
- Strict housing policies keep these individuals from being considered feasible candidates for renting apartments. Also those with past drug convictions are barred from public housing.
Medical Needs:
- Whether a prior medical/mental diagnosis or a more recently arising issue many have health needs that need to be addressed
- Obtaining medical insurance is stressful hurdle that most have to somehow tackle in order to treat these issues
Assistance:
- Many states exclude those whom have drug convictions from getting assistance like food stamps or cash assistance. Ineligible for temporary welfare to get on their feet.
Education:
- Many have minimal education and limited resources to get education or professional training.
Substance Abuse Issues:
- Limited resources on addressing this HUGE issue.
Employment:
- Big gaps in resume or no resume
- Stigma surrounding individuals
- Lack of training. Usually these people find work in "low-skill" positions within food, manufacturing, wholesale, or maintenance industries with little to no upward mobility
How this relates to tech
What are developers?
A developer is an person who is responsible for creating or working on the development of a product or service. Most developers use one or more programming languages to develop said product or service. They may work alone or on a team, and may develop part of or all a product or service. But, at highest level what is a developer - A problem solver who uses technical solutions to solve problems.
I would like to propose that people whom have returned and made it past all of these massive hurdles are GREAT problem solvers.
Need of developers
Every year there are millions of unfilled tech jobs worldwide. The number of tech positions grows every year as the world becomes more reliant on technology as a whole.
A different talent pool
It is well known that hiring managers are trying to hire talent from many different areas and walks of life, but one area often overlooked are the formerly incarcerated.
Checkr (background checking company) said it best: “Companies that practice fair chance hiring are able to tap into a larger pool of qualified, diverse talent with a wide range of experiences, better understand their customers, and ultimately, reach stronger business outcomes.”
John Hopkins and SHRM survey shows:
Tech Companies & Diversity
Research shows that diverse teams perform better than uniform teams. Black and Latino workers are underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering & Math and overrepresented among people with criminal records. Hiring from this group is one great way to diversify teams. We speak often of diversity & involvement, but I don't think we should stop at gender, race, sexual orientation or identity. To truly be inclusive we need to also include those with records in the conversation.
Recap
So IF these individuals can serve their deemed sentences, navigate around the gigantic hurdles and then somehow learn development in that time, then they show great drive and determination. These are soft skills that are not taught but acquired, which are highly prized within the workplace. There are many great statistical, professional, and moral reasons to give people the chance including in the professional world. If they have the soft skills and the know how we should treat them as equals and give them just as much of an opportunity to realize their full potential.