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The Use of Criminal Record in Employment Decisions: The Rights of Ex-offenders, Employers and the Public

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Abstract

The evidence suggests that employers discriminate against ex-offenders in the labour market. The problem is potentially serious as it involves a substantial proportion of the population, especially the male population. Since research has shown that most people with prior convictions stop offending by their late 20s or early 30s, the validity of selection based on criminal record remains questionable. This paper examines the need for legal protection of ex-offenders by limiting employers' access to, and use of, information on criminal background. The rights and interests of the various parties involved, employers, ex-offenders, and the general public, are discussed. Approaches to the legal protection of ex-offenders in Australia are reviewed and legislative changes proposed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Resource Management, Centre for Innovative Management, Athabasca University, St. Albert, Alberta, Canada

    Helen Lam

  2. Department of Strategic Management and Leadership, Waikato Management School, Waikato University, Hamilton, New Zealand

    Mark Harcourt

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  1. Helen Lam
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  2. Mark Harcourt
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Lam, H., Harcourt, M. The Use of Criminal Record in Employment Decisions: The Rights of Ex-offenders, Employers and the Public. Journal of Business Ethics 47, 237–252 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026243413175

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