Cornell Criminal Records Panel Study and Survey

A study on the impacts of criminal records on life outcomes

Overview

The Criminal Records Panel Study (CCRPS), conducted by the School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) at Cornell University, is a study that surveyed a sample of Americans over time about their employment and income, as well as their health, family, and community life. The CRPS provides important information about the challenges faced by people with criminal records. Millions of Americans have criminal records, which can limit the ability to get a job, driver’s license, and occupational license, as well as limit the access to housing, social services, and even voting in some places. These records often contain errors, which need to be corrected. The goal of the Criminal Records Panel Study (CCRPS) is to learn what types of services and supports increase employment opportunities and earnings for people who have been involved in the criminal justice system.

This project is the result of a class action lawsuit (Houser et al. v. Pritzker) against the United States Census Bureau for discriminatory hiring practices. The theory of the plaintiff’s case was that Census created a racially biased employment barrier by requiring at all applicants with an arrest record for any offense at any point in their lives to produce official court records of the disposition of their arrests to remain a potential candidate for employment in the 2010 Decennial Census. As part of the settlement of this case, each named plaintiff will receive settlement compensation of $10,000. Additionally, named and non-named plaintiffs will have four options: (1) receive a settlement of preference in the 2020 Census hiring process; (2) receive education regarding how to read their record and possible resources for record correction; (3) opt out of class action and retain the right to bring their own legal action against Census; or (4) object to the settlement and thereby allow them to pursue independent legal action against Census.

The Cornell Criminal Records Panel Survey (CCRPS) is a longitudinal survey of a group of people who applied for employment with the U.S. Census Bureau for the 2010 Census of Population. The objective of the research is to learn what types of services and supports increase employment opportunities and earnings for people who have been involved in the criminal justice system.

Project Team

  • Barrington, Linda
  • Bigler, Esta R.
  • Enayati, Hassan
  • Groshen, Erica
  • Levitt, Bruce
  • McNutt, Timothy
  • Vilhuber, Lars
  • Wells, Martin T.
  • York Cornwell, Erin

References