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The purpose of this survey is to learn about the views business professionals such as you have toward hiring people with a prior criminal conviction. We would like to remind you that your participation in this survey is completely voluntary, and you may choose to skip any question that may make you uncomfortable. Please, remember that we are not collecting your name or the name of your business and that your answers are submitted anonymously. Neither the researchers at the University of South Carolina nor the employees of the online survey company, QuestionPro, will know your responses. Thank you for your time and participation!
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Section I The questions in this section address your business’ basic information. Please, respond to the following questions as completely and accurately as possible.
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How would you best describe your type of business? |
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| In what year was your business founded? | | |
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Is your business publicly or privately owned? |
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Is your business a franchise business? |
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If so, are there franchises in operation outside of South Carolina? |
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Is your business headquartered within the state of South Carolina? |
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| If not, in what state is your business headquartered? | | |
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Is your business currently hiring new employees? |
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When was the most recent time your business hired a new employee? |
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Section II The questions in this section address your business’ current hiring practices. Please, respond to the following questions as completely and accurately as possible.
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What level of education is required for an entry-level position at your business? Please, indicate all that apply. |
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Does your business currently
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Does your business have any positions that have a license requirement that prohibits someone with a felony criminal conviction from obtaining that license? |
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| If yes, how many employee positions require this type of license? | | |
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How likely are you to hire a person who meets all other standards of employment, including education and experience requirements, but has been convicted of a(n)
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How likely are you to hire a person who meets all other standards of employment, including education and experience requirements, who was convicted of an offense
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How likely do you think someone who has been convicted of each of the following offenses is to re-offend?
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When considering an applicant, which factor is most important? (Please, rank the following from 1 to 5, with 1 being the most important factor and 5 being the least important factor.) |
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Education |
| | References |
| | Work experience |
| | The interview |
| | Criminal history |
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Section III States and the federal government have started programs to encourage employers to hire people with criminal convictions. The questions in this section address these incentives. Please, respond to the following as completely and accurately as possible.
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The South Carolina Department of Corrections offers inmates the Self-Paced In-Class Education (SPICE) Program. SPICE is an 18-week program that provides vocational, life-skills, and career-readiness training, as well as an opportunity for spiritual growth or community volunteerism. Inmates in the program are trained 60 to 80 hours a week. Were you previously aware of the SPICE Program? |
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How likely are you to hire a person with a criminal conviction who has completed the SPICE Program? |
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WorkKeys is a standardized job-skills assessment system used in the U.S. How likely are you to hire a person with a criminal conviction who has completed a WorkKeys certification? |
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The U.S. Department of Labor currently sponsors the Federal Bonding Program, which is a program that provides a $5,000 insurance policy to protect employers in the event that there is money or property loss due to employee dishonesty. Were you previously aware of this government incentive that can insure your business against the potential risks incurred from hiring a person with a criminal conviction? |
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How likely is your business to use the Federal Bonding Program in hiring a person with a criminal conviction? |
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The U.S. Department of Labor currently sponsors the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program, which is a tax credit program worth up to a $2,400 credit for businesses that hire convicted felons during a work-release program or within one year of conviction or release from prison. Were you previously aware of this government incentive for hiring a person with a criminal conviction? |
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How likely is your business to use the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program in hiring a person with a criminal conviction? |
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Which of the following would your business be most likely to use in the decision to hire a person with a criminal conviction? (Please, rank the following from 1 to 4, with 1 being the most likely and 4 being the least likely.) |
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Work Opportunity Tax Credit |
| | SPICE Program completion |
| | Federal Bonding Program |
| | WorkKeys certification |
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| What is your current position? | | |
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| How many years have you worked in your current position? | | |
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| How many years have you worked for your current employer? | | |
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| What is your current age? | | |
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What race/ethnicity best describes you? |
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What is your highest level of education? |
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