More than 3.8 million Canadians live with a criminal record. Among them, many face significant barriers to employment, which is critical for protecting against homelessness, addiction, and recidivism, while fostering positive mental health outcomes. The barriers to employment are disproportionately challenging for Black and/or Indigenous individuals, who experience compounded difficulties arising from Canada’s legacy of systemic racism and colonialism. Unemployment rates for Black and Indigenous persons with a criminal record reach 60% and 54%, respectively, compared to 38% for White individuals.This project, Shaping Fair Chances: Strengthening Mental Wellness and Employment Prospects for Individuals with Criminal Records, builds on a prior study conducted with the John Howard Society. This previous needs assessment survey of 223 participants identified gaps, barriers, and opportunities for improving employment for those with criminal records. However, it also highlighted concerns about limited data on mental health and a lack of focus on Black and/or Indigenous populations. This study addresses these concerns by integrating mental health measures and prioritizing the recruitment of Black and Indigenous participants. Specifically, 200 participants will be surveyed from sites and organizations within Windsor-Essex County. Using empirical analysis of surveyed data, findings will shape employment programming that is tailored to the mental health needs of the justice-involved individuals, particularly Black and/or Indigenous populations. The results will be used to construct knowledge mobilization tools that contribute to the literature while also influencing policy, public understanding, and workplace equity, creating more inclusive opportunities within the labour market for individuals with a criminal record.

Findings from this study will provide deeper insight into the struggles associated with post-incarceration reintegration. Primarily, it will enhance understanding of the barriers and challenges to employment faced by individuals with a history of criminal justice involvement and the impact of mental health and well-being in this process. This understanding will inform the development of inclusive and equitable employment programs that integrate the lived experiences of Black and Indigenous individuals to better support their workforce participation.