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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Business
Gene Marks

I have no problem hiring ex-offenders. But they’re being let down

A fence stands at Elmore Correctional Facility in Elmore, Ala., June 18, 2015.
Penal institution records show that inmates have a 16% chance of returning to prison if they receive literacy help, as opposed to 70% who receive no help. Photograph: Brynn Anderson/AP

My company is hoping to hire a part-time person to implement and support some of the software applications we sell. Like most small business owners, finding someone isn’t easy in this tight labor market, despite all the recent tech industry layoffs. I can’t afford to pay what some of these people earn – or were earning – in Silicon Valley and therefore my choices are limited. So, what to do?

How about hiring someone with a criminal record?

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