Date of Graduation
Fall 2014
Degree
Master of Science in Applied Anthropology
Department
Sociology and Anthropology
Committee Chair
Margaret Buckner
Abstract
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' caseloads, are discussed.
Keywords
Applied anthropology, ex-offender, recidivism, desistance, employment, addiction, alcoholism, ethnography, survey, interview, life history, quantitative, qualitative
Subject Categories
Anthropology
Copyright
© Edward Joseph Keohane
Recommended Citation
Keohane, Edward Joseph, "Getting Out and Staying Out: A Study of Recidivism and Ex-Offender Employability in Springfield, Missouri" (2014). MSU Graduate Theses. 1191.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/1191
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