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The Employment of People with Criminal Records in the European Union

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Abstract

This paper summarises a large-scale research project, jointly funded by the European Commission and the Northern Ireland Office, about the legislation, policies, and practices which act against the employment of people with a criminal record in the European Union. The disparity of legal guidance between countries effectively restricts the opportunities for people with a criminal record to work in the country they choose. This paper intends to increase awareness of the policies across Europe which affect the employment of people with a criminal record with a view to addressing the marginalisation of this group and thereby encouraging the re-integration of ex-offenders into society. Details of the work undertaken by a project based in Northern Ireland, 'Coping with Convictions' which endeavours to tackle some of the existing barriers to ex-offender employment are described. In addition, the recent introduction of UK legislation, allowing employers greater access to criminal record information, and the implications this may have for ex-offenders seeking employment are also discussed.

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Loucks, N., Lyner, O. & Sullivan, T. The Employment of People with Criminal Records in the European Union. European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research 6, 195–210 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008632508533

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008632508533

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