Job recruitment magazine for ex-cons takes down-to-earth approach to hiring

Ever heard of a quarterly magazine called "Chance!!"? It was launched last March by a publisher -- we swear we're not making this up -- called Human Comedy. The targeted readership of its initial print run of 850 copies, according to Weekly Playboy (Oct 29) were ex-convicts.

The magazine's publisher must be doing something right, because the most recent autumn edition was up to 3,000 copies, which are distributed mostly to prisons and halfway houses. So far, it is reported to have helped 15 former felons land jobs following their release.

Enclosed with each copy of the magazine is a specialized rirekisho (personal history form), which contains boxes in which to enter not only one's name and date of birth, but such data as the type of crime of which the applicant was convicted; duration of sentence; existence of tattoos; details of any missing fingers; "affiliation with anti-social organizations" (i.e., name of the gang); and whether or not ties had been severed with that organization.

There's also a box for a short essay that applicants are invited to fill in, to explain what inspired them to go straight or note specific activities taken to remedy their behavior.

"Since it's quite an ordeal for the business operators who run the ads to call on the prison to conduct job interviews, it makes sense to inquire about those kinds of things beforehand, which was behind our designing the job application form," says Akiko Miyake, the magazine's editor. "It's also essential for the people serving time to come to terms with their past, considering things like what led them to commit the crime, or how they intend to avoid recidivism. We set the hurdle for them fairly high, thinking that if they can't write out their thoughts, it's going to be hard for them to change their ways."

According to Miyake, the publisher came up with the idea for the magazine thinking that when the ex-cons secured their release, they wouldn't have any money, and many had no homes to return to. "So there was a high possibility that they'd suffer a relapse and wind up back in prison. We were motivated by a desire to help them find work."

Miyake tells Weekly Playboy that her publication also lists crimes for which the perpetrators could not count on employment.

"These include sex crimes or use of stimulant drugs, both of which have high rates of recidivism, and for that reason most employers avoid them," she explained. "On the other hand, strangely enough, employers are willing to consider hiring those convicted of homicide or manslaughter. That's because depending on the circumstances or background, the likelihood them repeating the same crime is low."

Asked how her magazine solicits advertisers, Miyake said for the first edition she had picked the brains of companies in the construction industry and also those with positive past results for hiring ex-convicts.

"The news about us got around by word of mouth, but we nearly haven't sold ads. It only seems to appeal to companies that have previously employed ex-cons."

Nobue Hirose, president of a construction firm called Daishin Work Support, told the reporter that she herself was a former penitent.

"Out of 28 workers at my company, eight of them have served time. I wanted to help those who wanted to turn over a new leaf, so I ran an ad in Chance!! I've been able to talk a former stimulant user into undergoing regular checks, and an employee with a drinking problem to pledge not to touch alcohol except on his days off."

Hirose pointed out that after serving a term in prison, some habits, such as rising early, become ingrained. "I also noticed that ex-cons are good at holding in their anger in front of the boss," she said.

© Japan Today