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- Title
Examining the effect of prison time on landlords' willingness to rent to exonerees: A test of the stigma‐by‐association framework.
- Authors
Hamovitch, Leah; Pejic, Samantha; Zannella, Lesley; Deska, Jason C.
- Abstract
Researchers posit that stigma‐by‐association may account for the discrimination that exonerees experience post‐release. Exonerees who serve a longer prison sentence may experience more stigma than exonerees who spent less time in prison. Across two studies, we examined whether criminal history (exoneree, releasee, or control) or prison time (5 or 25 years) impacted landlords' willingness to rent their apartment. Authors responded to one‐bedroom apartment listings in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, inquiring about unit availability. The rental inquiries were identical except for criminal history and prison time. Across both studies, results demonstrated that landlords were significantly less likely to respond, and indicate availability, to exonerees and releasees compared to control. Landlords discriminated against exonerees when the exoneree did not mention a formal exoneration (Study 1) and explicitly mentioned that he was exonerated by DNA evidence (Study 2). Prison time had no significant impact. A content analysis of landlords' replies revealed that exonerees and releasees experienced more subtle forms of discrimination compared to individuals without a criminal history. Together, our results demonstrate that individuals who were formerly incarcerated and associated with prison—whether it be for 5 years or 25 years or a rightful or wrongful conviction—experience housing discrimination upon their release.
- Subjects
HOUSING discrimination; FORMERLY incarcerated people; LANDLORDS; SOCIAL stigma; EXONERATION
- Publication
Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 2023, Vol 41, Issue 2/3, p78
- ISSN
0735-3936
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/bsl.2608