Employment plays a crucial role in the desistance process, yet individuals with criminal records often face substantial challenges in securing and maintaining jobs. This is particularly problematic for individuals with a sexual offence conviction. These individuals experience increased barriers to employment in comparison to those with any other prior conviction. This paper reviews the existing literature on the employability and related decision-making, with a primary focus on its application within the United Kingdom.
We provide a critical review of the experimental literature on employer decision-making with specific regard to sexual offending. We also provide an overview of employment campaigns, such as “Ban-the-Box”, and their potential impact and limitations for individuals with a history of sexual offending behaviour.
There is a substantial variety in the types and quality of research studies examining employer decision-making, making it difficult to gain a comprehensive overview of the employment barriers faced by individuals with a prior sexual offence. Targeted research is required to create, implement and evaluate employment interventions for individuals with a history of sexual offending behaviour.
This paper provides a critical review of the experimental literature on sexual offending and employer decision-making. It highlights the complexities of conducting research within this field and provides recommendations for how best to navigate them. It also explores the Ban-the-Box campaign with a view to individuals with a history of sexual offending and highlights that a “one-size-fits-all approach” will not work, calling for more focused research approaches.
