Highlighting Prison Accomplishments Boosts Job Prospects, Study Finds

University of Houston research suggests voluntary disclosure of incarceration history with skills gained can improve employment outcomes.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 10:37pm

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An extremely blurred, warm-toned photograph of a person's hands typing on a laptop computer, conveying the abstract concept of the job search process for those with a criminal record.Formerly incarcerated individuals may improve their job prospects by highlighting skills and accomplishments gained during their sentence, rather than simply disclosing their criminal history.Chapel Hill Today

New research from the University of Houston found that formerly incarcerated individuals are more likely to receive job search assistance if they voluntarily disclose their past incarceration while highlighting accomplishments and skills earned during their sentence, compared to simply stating the incarceration without additional context. The study suggests that how applicants frame their criminal history can shape employer responses and potentially boost their job search prospects.

Why it matters

The findings offer a new perspective on 'Ban the Box' policies, which aim to remove criminal history questions from initial job applications to delay background checks. While well-intentioned, the study shows these policies have limitations, as they don't allow applicants to demonstrate the capabilities or skills they acquired while incarcerated. The research provides insights into how formerly incarcerated individuals can more effectively navigate the job search process and overcome the stigma of a criminal record.

The details

The study, published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, involved sending mock job-search emails to approximately 4,900 state legislators across the U.S. Posing as individuals with a felony drug conviction, researchers tested three disclosure approaches: 1) no explanation for an employment gap, 2) stating the gap was due to incarceration, and 3) disclosing incarceration while highlighting specific skills, work experience and education obtained in prison. The odds of receiving a response were 31% lower for emails indicating incarceration without achievement information, and 68% lower for those providing no explanation at all, compared to messages that highlighted prison accomplishments. Follow-up studies also found that candidates who highlighted prison achievements were rated as having significantly higher competence and moral character than those who disclosed incarceration without context.

  • The study was published in the Journal of Applied Psychology in 2026.

The players

Lawrence Houston III

Lead author of the study and assistant professor of management in the C. T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston.

Horatio Traylor

A University of Houston student who co-authored the study.

University of Houston

The institution that led the research on how formerly incarcerated individuals can improve their job prospects by highlighting accomplishments earned during their sentence.

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What they’re saying

“The Ban the Box policy doesn't allow applicants to demonstrate the capabilities or skills they acquired while they were incarcerated. It also doesn't prevent organizations from conducting a background check. It often just delays the point at which the bias or discrimination occurs.”

— Lawrence Houston III, Lead author and assistant professor of management

“We aren't suggesting that employers should just give someone a job because they have been to prison. We are trying to create interventions to help organizations better screen and select those who have a high probability of success on the job.”

— Lawrence Houston III, Lead author and assistant professor of management

What’s next

The researchers plan to continue their work by focusing on the unique challenges faced by women in the prison system, as well as collaborating with the RISE re-entry program in Nebraska to develop toolkits and workshops to help formerly incarcerated individuals navigate the transition into life after prison.

The takeaway

This study provides valuable insights into how formerly incarcerated individuals can more effectively overcome the stigma of a criminal record and improve their job prospects by voluntarily disclosing their incarceration history while highlighting the skills, work experience, and education they gained during their sentence. The findings challenge the limitations of 'Ban the Box' policies and suggest that a more nuanced approach to addressing employment barriers for the formerly incarcerated is needed.