Every day, tens of thousands of under-18s are thrown in jail in the US, and while this number is slowly decreasing, the issue of vulnerable youths facing prison time is still a hot topic in many nations.
Ben & jerry's logo. Credit: Jay Yuan / Shutterstock
Ben & Jerry's has a long history of hiring convicts or homeless people in a bid to stop them from reoffending. Credit: Jay Yuan / Shutterstock
Because of this, a new hiring scheme set to be introduced by ice cream maker Ben & Jerry's, a firm known for championing various social justice causes, seeks to address the poverty-to-crime pipeline by giving a second chance to those at risk of incarceration with a 12-month pilot.
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Specifically targeting those at the "greatest risk of incarceration", the scheme has been conducted as part of the RBIJ's Unlock Potential programme, a string of employers looking for hiring equality along racial and class lines and to hire "the next generation of corporate leaders".
Prospective hires will also be aided through a wraparound support scheme, meaning they will be given aid with other complex issues that could affect their lives, such as employment readiness, child care or mental health counselling.
Around 4.4 million American youths - those between 16-24 - are "disconnected", meaning they are not currently in employment or education. This puts them at an increased risk of committing crimes and ending up in jail.
Poverty is by far the biggest factor in crime, with poor people being far more likely to be both the perpetrators and victims of various crimes. For example, those living in lower-income areas are twice as likely to suffer a serious injury, twice as likely to be burgled and six times more likely to be a victim of domestic abuse, according to one report by Civitas.
Those in poverty also face other types of social discrimination, such as higher insurance, higher cost of replacing items and tougher prison sentencing.
In addition, African-Americans and Hispanics are far more likely to live in poverty in the US, with 18.8% of black people and 15.5% of Latinos living below the poverty line, according to US census data. Black men are five times more likely to be incarcerated than white men.
As such, it is vital to tackle this issue while potential offenders are young, which will not only increase their employment prospects later in life, but also leave them less likely to commit crimes.
"The importance of second-chance employment efforts cannot be overstated. But hiring individuals when they're released from prison isn't enough – we have to be taking steps to stop them from ending up there in the first place," said Matthew McCarthy, CEO of Ben & Jerry's.
"Data shows that meaningful employment opportunities are one of the most impactful ways to prevent future incarceration. Unlock Potential will create those first chances."
The Unlock Potential movement has seen support from big retail giants in the US such as Walmart, through its Centre for Racial Equity.
According to UP, a criminal record can decrease earnings by as much as 30%. Many firms will also flat-out refuse to hire those with a criminal record.
By preventing first-time incarcerations, the firm hopes it can help break long-term systemic issues such as intergenerational poverty.
Ben & Jerry's Allie Reid said its work with the programme helps further its goals towards increasing racial equality at the company.
"Creating meaningful career opportunities for at-risk youth supports skill development and economic mobility in the communities we serve and exist in."
Ben and Jerry's has become famous for having a policy of "hiring anyone who walks through the door" with a no-questions-asked policy. Because of this, they have hired many former convicts and homeless people.
Part of the reason their ice cream is so pricey is that it also pays its employees well, with the average worker earning between $11-15 per hour. The company has voiced support for a $15/hr minimum wage. Its parent company, Unilever, also refuses to do business with companies that do not pay a living wage.
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In addition to ethnic minorities, the UP scheme is also looking to tackle employment for those in other marginalised groups, such as victims of human or sex trafficking, those with one or more parents in prison, those in the juvenile justice system or in foster care.
"By opening up economic opportunities for these individuals, participating employers can help address the root causes of mass incarceration", it said in a statement.
The pilot is expected to commence at some time after the planning phase wraps up in October. A handful of Ben & Jerry's franchised Scoop Shops will be matched with prospective hires to provide careers with real opportunity for advancement
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