U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Redemption in the Presence of Widespread Criminal Background Checks
NCJ Number
              227308
Journal

*Criminology* Volume: 47 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2009 Pages: 327-360
Author(s)
          Alfred Blumstein;
                        Kiminori Nakamura
Date Published

May 2009
Length
              34 pages
Annotation
              This article proposes a method for analyzing data from background checks on ex-offenders so as to produce an evidence-based assessment of their risk and develop a reliable procedure for employers and others to use in interpreting background information on an ex-offender's evolutionary behaviors.
Abstract
              Studies have shown that the probability of recidivism declines with the length of time an ex-offender has gone without reoffending ("time clean"). This implies that at some point in time, a person with a criminal record who has remained free of further involvement with the criminal justice system is of no greater risk of offending than a peer who has never been arrested. For the purposes of this paper, this is called the point of “redemption.” Very little information exists on the measure of the redemption point and how its value varies with the crime type and the offender's age at the time of earlier offenses. Using data from a State criminal-history repository, the current study estimated the declining risk of rearrest with time clean. It first estimated the point of redemption as the time when the risk of reoffending intersected the age-crime curve, which represents the arrest risk for the general population of the same age. The study also estimated another similar redemption point when the declining risk of reoffending comes “sufficiently” to the risk of offending posed by those who have never been arrested. Both measures of redemption are estimated as a function of the age and the crime type of the earlier arrest. The information and approaches presented should be useful in enhancing redemption opportunities and consequent employment opportunities for those who have offending in their backgrounds but have since lived a lawful life. 2 tables, 4 figures, and 100 references
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2007-IJ-CX-0041


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Report (Study/Research)


  
  
        
  Award
        Potential for Redemption in Criminal Background Checks
    
  
  
Date Published: May 1, 2009
    
          Downloads
        
                      HTML

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Background investigations
        Criminology
        Ex-offender employment
        Mathematical Modeling
        NIJ Grant-related Documents



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Self-Protection, Routine Activities, and Victimization: Studying Arab Americans in Metro-Detroit
                  Differentiation of Structurally Similar Phenethylamines via Gas Chromatography-Vacuum Ultraviolet Spectroscopy (GC-VUV)
                  Spectroscopic Differentiation and Chromatographic Separation of Regioisomeric Indole Aldehydes: Synthetic Cannabinoids Precursors
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov