At a time when Quebec is facing a historic labor shortage, many people in the courts who are trying to find a job come up against closed doors.
Last week, the Institute for Socioeconomic Research and Information (IRIS) published a study on the profile of people in court in Quebec. Among their recommendations, the researchers, Pierre Tircher and Guillaume Hébert, propose to reduce discrimination in the hiring of people with criminal charges.
Their “integration into the labor market is a way to reduce the recidivism rate of these people,” said Tircher.
Prejudices
However, according to the Advisory Committee for Adult Judicial Clients (CCCJA), moving from the title of criminalized person to citizen taxpayer is not an easy task.
“What is difficult are the prejudices”, recalls Patrick Pilon, president of the CCCJA.
He adds that in Quebec, everyone has access to the plumitif in matters of criminal offenses. An employer can therefore interpret what he sees and base his decision on it without giving the candidate further explanations.
“The employers here have a certain closure,” continues Mr. Pilon. There are only 28% of employers who would hire someone with a criminal record, ”he argues.
A heavy task
For Benoît Gascon, ex-prisoner, the job search is a real way of the cross. Sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment for sexual assault, he regained his freedom last February.
“It’s humiliation every time I want to return to the job market,” says the man who once held managerial positions.
He also worked as an investigator in a private company and in the retail industry.
“Every time I have tried to get a job at the least well paid, unfortunately the cord is cut,” he continues.
Turn the page
For the time being, Mr. Gascon lives on annuities which he receives since he is involved in a road accident. He now lives with his son, after having been roaming. All he wants is to turn the page and contribute to the community.
He carried numerous resumes, researched several job boards and called in specialized services.
“But as soon as the subject [de ma judiciarisation est abordé], [les employeurs] are not really interested, laments Mr. Gascon. Sometimes I would say when I left that I had a criminal record and boom! it was finished. “