Nearly three without of every five...

Nearly three without of every five parolees in Illinois are without work-with unruffled higher rates of joblessness upon Chicago's predominantly black South and West sides, according to state corrections data. More than half of all ex-offender in the state wind up back behind bars within three years of release.

not many dispute that employment is the principally important factor in keeping ex-felon from returning to prison. if it were not that advocates say that most employer are still just too scared to hire them. "You hear our clients talking about the proverbial 'X' forward their backs and the stigma that that 'X' forward their backs carries," said Dorothy Bolden director of agency services at the Safer Foundation, the state's largest program for ex-offender Based in the West loophole the organization helps connect nearly 3000 ex-offender with piece of works at more than 300 firms each year.

newly come state legislation allows ex-offenders to conceal one misdemeanors and work in piece of works that were once closed to them. Agencies that work with ex-offender have stepp up their job-readiness training. And advocates have widely publicized federal sway incentives, like tax credits, for companies that take chances upon ex-cons.

yet the federal benefits, established to make hiring ex-offender a safer and more profitable proposition, have failed to tympanum up much excitement. Fewer than 1000 ex-felon statewide work in subordination to the tax-credit program, according to state data. And just a scarcely any companies have applied for insurance to help disguise losses that might result from having ex-felon onward the payroll.

level companies that hire ex-offenders don't want many others to know about it, fearful of public relations nightmares. More universal are employers who turn to criminal background checks to filter gone out such workers from the start; the number of checks performed according to state police hit at a 20-year high this year.

equal the term "ex-offender" gives many the community "the worst image," said Roberta Meyers-Peeple envoy director for the National H.I.R.E. Network. The just discovered York City-based group works to change public policies and public opinion to increase piece of work opportunities for the formerly incarcerated. "The most numerous serious violent acts come to mind," she said. "I think that's where commonalty get stuck. It just changes everything."

Employer said they must be cautious.

"One of the biggest question at issues retailers face these days is employee theft," said strip Karr, vice president of command and member relations more the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, a statewide arrange of more than 23,000 stores, including retail chains so as Wal-Mart, Jewel-Osco and Walgreens. Despite the enigma Karr said, the retail industry has been a longtime employer of ex-offender "They're more than willing to give race a chance," he said. "They just like to do it with their sights open."

For more than 10 years, Nancy Behrendt has worked with the Safer Foundation, still still asks that her nationally known firm not be publicly identified because she believes about customers will be turned distant from by the prospect of workers who are ex-offenders

The Chicago-based company has engrossed as many as 50 ex-offender at a time during its busiest season, she said. They mainly work in factory, clerical, data hall or customer service positions. Behrendt said none has aye caused a major problem, and they're more motivated and better overall temporary employees

Getting her colleagues to agree hasn't been easy. At a conversation of more than 200 human resources officers, she heard a gasp when she talked about her company's policy of hiring ex-offenders; one participants called her insane and warned her about liability issues.

She got similar reactions inside the company, with single manager accusing Behrendt of putting "her lift in danger" on malting such hires.

While Behrdent doesn't think employer should be scared most distant by a worker's criminal conviction, she said they should definitely know the backgrounds of nation they hire. "I don't want to bring forward an embezzler in accounting," she said.

The criminal background check has become standard operating manner of proceeding for many of Chicago's largest employers; nearly 20 companies viewed by The Chicago Reporter perform them regularly. And they usually enlist outside help. While dozens of private companies statewide furnish background checking services, many citizens, employer academy districts and government agencies rely onward the Illinois State Police, said Master Sgt Rick Hector, a state police spokesman. And solicitations are rising: So far this year, state police have directioned 707,544 checks, the most since it began performing them in 1984 The agency course of lifeed 546,015 checks in 2003.

Companies have a range of standards for determining whether to hire workers with criminal records. The power company Exelon which engages about 6,600 workers in the Chicago area, has hired ex-offender according to s Gary Snodgrass, executive vice president and chief human resources officer. The company is the nation's largest nuclear operator and the parent company of ComEd