Entrepreneurship Potential of Former Male Convicts. the Case of Estonia

Saturday, April 16, 2016
Assembly A (DoubleTree by Hilton Philadelphia Center City)
Tuuli Stewart , Political Science and Governance, Tallinn University
Peeter Järvelaid , School of Governance, Law and Society, Tallinn University
(Re)integration of persons who have been detached from the labor market is an ongoing tackle in all EU countries. With free movement policies of labor forces, also the problems travel cross border. One of the groups who (re)enters the labor market with restricted opportunities is released felons. The new EU member states with soviet background carry historic and cultural traits that still affect government-level policies, including imprisonment. Limitations in finding a sustainability-supporting employment might be one of the factors affecting extremely high recidivism in Eastern European region. Could becoming an entrepreneur be one of the alternatives to domestic employment and is it in reality an option for the released? In this article are discussed some of the work-related aspects of today’s convicts’ preparedness for the option of an entrepreneurial activity after release.