‘BANNING THE BOX’ NOT THE WAY TO GO
There are some advocates who call for the removal of the checkbox that requires job applicants to declare their past convictions or criminal records, but experts told CNA TODAY this is not the way to go, and that true inclusion requires a nuanced approach.
“Rather than expecting employers to be entirely ‘blind’ to criminal records, a more realistic goal is to equip them to make informed decisions based on the relevance and context of any past offences to the role in question,” said Mr Ho of Risk Management Intelligence.
Employers need knowledge of, for example, the nature of offence, the time elapsed and the individual’s rehabilitation journey to better decide what role the candidate may be suited for, he added.
At its core, a fully inclusive hiring practice and reducing stigma does not mean disregarding ex-offenders’ past, he said.
Instead, it could create more acceptance if employers focused on their potential for growth, and granted second chances without compromising trust and safety standards.
The spokesperson from Jobstreet by SEEK said: “Realistically, employers could work toward hiring practices that acknowledge past convictions without making them the sole defining factor, focusing instead on applicants’ skills, experience, and readiness to contribute positively.”
And as much as holding stable employment is a key factor in keeping recidivism rates low, it’s ultimately not a cure-all, the experts noted.
Other main factors that help to keep individuals from re-offending include mental health and substance abuse treatment and the accessibility of community-based aftercare programmes that provide ongoing support in the areas of counselling, housing, legal and financial advice.
Experts and several ex-offenders also spoke of the crucial importance of having strong, supportive social networks consisting of family, friends, mentors and the wider community, while staying away from negative influences.
“Human beings have a basic need to feel connected with others, and when we have someone who believes in us and stays with us in life, it really encourages us to hang on,” said Assistant Professor Wong of SIT.
Mr Silva Rajoo Vignesvara, 41, certainly agrees.
The facilities coordinator in an engineering company, who has served sentences for assault and drug-related charges, said that familial support, and knowing he is backed by people who love him, has been “very, very important” in his reintegration journey.
As such, the single father of two teens said regaining his children’s trust is something he is working towards, and he believes that his current employment serves as a good motivation. He hopes to show the people around him that he is committed to change, by doing well in his role.
To support others like him, the Singapore Prison Service launched the Desistor Network last year to help ex-offenders better reintegrate into society, by providing them with a network of community agencies and other ex-offenders who have stayed crime-free for a period of time.
Beyond support from agencies and organisations, ex-offenders say they hope for wider acceptance from society, and having a job is but the first step.
Mr Thorairajan said: “(At the start of my sentence) I used to have this mentality of thinking, I am already in prison, why am I suffering, why would I want to study?
“But my mom played a very key role. She was there writing letters, coming for every visit, looking into my studies… and giving me a chance in life. So I thought, why not sacrifice a few years of my life, but at least when I go out I can bring pride to my mom, and bring pride to my family?”
He added: “I’d been hurting people (when I was in a gang), and now I want to help people. I want to use my stories to also change people’s lives.”
