Authors : Sylene Melody A. Baguio; Kaye Anne C. Caldito; Darren Jake B. Campos; Butch C. Catoera; Nicolle D. Domingo; Mary Grace B. Gaoat; Gino A. Manegdeg; Trisha D. Peralta; Sheryl S. Ragonjan; Czarina Mae D. Rambac; Angel M. Taylan; Rey April Lyn G. Pulundi

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 1 - January

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/mrxkh9ex

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/389hxc7r

DOI : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14744569

Abstract : This research study explored the life transformation of individuals with justice history focused on the personal struggles in applying for jobs, strategies employed after failing to secure a job, and the quality of life they have today. A phenomenological design was utilized wherein five (5) self-employed individuals with justice history residing in the Province of Ilocos Norte were purposefully selected. There were four themes formulated, which include declination due to a criminal record, financial constraints, starting a business, and improvement of life status. This suggests that after being reintegrated into society, individuals with justice history had difficulties; yet, they managed to transform their lives. It has been remarkable initiative and effort from the local government and the non-government office in providing programs to those individuals with justice history. Hence, the researchers may recommend the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to provide vocational training to equip the individuals with justice history with marketable skills to can help them to cope with their lives. Local Government Unit (LGU) may provide local economic development programs that may offer incentives and support individuals with justice history in their transformation in the community. Institutional Corrections may issue a certificate upon the released of inmates to strengthen that they are equip with skills and can work properly. Ilocos Norte Youth Development Office could provide a scholarship program for the children of individuals with justice history during incarceration to lessen the financial burden and help them finish their education.

Keywords : Individuals with Justice History, Life Transformation, Criminal Record, Declination, Financial Constraints, Personal Struggles, Business, Improvement of Life Status

References :

1. G. Abhulimhen-Iyoha, A. (2020). The Importance of Interview for Data Collection in Legal Research. International Journal of Law and Clinical Legal Education. https://www.nigerianjournalsonline.com/index.php/IJOLACLE/article/viewFile/2175/2124
2. Alano, J. F., & Palma, J. A. (2019, January 18). Hire Me: A phenomenological study on job search and rejection of unemployed college graduates. https://ojs.aaresearchindex.com/index.php/AAJMRA/article/view/4354
3. Apolinario, R. C., and Palgan, M. D. (2022). Walking A New Beginning: a case study on the chronicles of Ex-Offenders in surpassing the challenges of living outside the bars. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 6(2), 178–187. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/11963
4. Bidola, V. R., De Leon, R., Ignacio, E., Mori, M. J., Valdez, S. N., and Bernabe, J. (2024). Life After Bars: A Narrative-Case Study of Ex-convicts. American Journal of Human Psychology, 2(1), 22–32. https://doi.org/10.54536/ajhp.v2i1.2554
5. Bliss, L. A. (2016). Phenomenological Research: inquiry to understand the meanings of people’s experiences. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1155631
6. Brannan, G., Brannan, J., and Tenny, S. (2024, January 1). Qualitative study. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29262162/
7. Campbell, A. (2024, May 6). Ex-inmate turns entrepreneur, champions second chances. Baseline. https://www.baselinemag.com/news/ex-inmate-turns-entrepreneur-champions-second-chances/
8. Cani, N. (2019, January 18). The effects of financial difficulties towards the academic performance of Grade 7 students of Emiliano Tria Tirona Memorial National High School: a Qualitative perspective. https://ojs.aaresearchindex.com/index.php/AAJMRA/article/view/9364
9. Nelson, J. (1989). An Operational Definition of prior criminal Record. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, Vol. 5(No. 4), 333-352 (20 pages). https://www.jstor.org/stable/23365545
10. Pager, D. (2003). The mark of a criminal record. American Journal of Sociology, 108(5), 937–975. https://doi.org/10.1086/374403
11. Cuevas, J. Jr., & Vivares, K. M. S. (2023). The Reintegration of Ex-Convicts in Society: A Case Study. International Journal of Social Science and Human Research, 6(10). https://doi.org/10.47191/ijsshr/v6-i10-52
12. Curib, E. L., Mamowalas, J., Namoco, R., Sanchez, J. C., Canape, B., and Cuevas, J. Jr. (2023). Aftermath of Incarceration: Lived Experiences of the Ex-Convict. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS). https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/articles/aftermath-of-incarceration-lived-experiences-of-the-ex-convict/
13. FitzRoy, F. R., & Nolan, M. A. (2021). Income status and life satisfaction. Journal of Happiness Studies, 23(1), 233–256. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-021-00397-y
14. Go Negosyo. (2022, December 26). #TRENDINGTUESDAY DATING EX CONVICT, NGAYON AY. . . Facebook. https://web.facebook.com/gonegosyoofficial/posts/pfbid0jnjcEp52MswZSsmWoVdxrKDwARj5eRWSprVz6RtggJ6GdZZTKtYVzVdsjN7rUK1rl?rdid=zCy0nun0sIsKrS7z
15. Hwang, K. J. (2022). From Prison to Entrepreneurship: Can Entrepreneurship be a Reentry Strategy for Justice-Impacted Individuals? The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science/the Annals, 701(1), 114–133. https://doi.org/10.1177/00027162221115378
16. Hwang, K. J., & Phillips, D. J. (2024b). Entrepreneurship as a response to labor market discrimination for formerly incarcerated people. American Journal of Sociology, 130(1), 88–146. https://doi.org/10.1086/729476
17. Investopedia. (2019, June 6).Business Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/business-4689640
18. Luft, J. A., Jeong, S., Idsardi, R., & Gardner, G. (2022). Literature Reviews, Theoretical Frameworks, and Conceptual Frameworks: An Introduction for new Biology education researchers. CBE Life Sciences Education, 21(3). https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.21-05-0134
19. Marziah, S., Jaafar, J. R., Hazila, N. and Laim, N. H. M. (2018). Employment Issues Among Ex-Offenders: Difficulties in Securing Employment and Barriers of Employment. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326681863_EMPLOYMENT_ISSUES_AMONG_EX-OFFENDERS_DIFFICULTIES_IN_SECURING_EMPLOYMENT_AND_BARRIERS_OF_EMPLOYMENT/citations
20. NeuroLaunch (2024, September 15). Rejection in Psychology: Understanding its definition, impact, and coping strategies. https://neurolaunch.com/rejection-definition-psychology/
21. Nikolopoulou, K. (2023, June 22). What is purposive sampling? | Definition & Examples. Scribbr. https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/purposive-sampling/
22. Pansag, F., Rosaroso, R. C., Paradiang, L. A., Labasano, F., & Lasala, G. (2016). Journey of an ex-convict: From conviction to liberation. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Journey-of-an-Ex-convict%3A-From-Conviction-to-Pansag-Rosaroso/49f26ef6506a2ba13dab31e48cae2bdfa9f0f99c
23. Rieple, A., & Harper, M. (1993). EX‐OFFENDERS AND ENTERPRISE. The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 32(4), 271–275. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2311.1993.tb00782.x
24. Rocha, A. (2014). The Successful Reintegration from Prison to Community Experienced by Men of Color. https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/downloads/5138jf577
25. Rosala, M. (2022, August 17). How to Analyze Qualitative Data from UX Research: Thematic Analysis. Nielsen Norman Group. https://www.nngroup.com/articles/thematic-analysis/
26. Singh, S. (2023, June 28). What is business? A Beginners guide. The CEO Magazine India. https://www.theceo.in/blogs/what-is-a-business
27. Smith, C. D. (2021). Exploring the Employability of Ex-Offenders: Employer Perspectives. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=12605&context=dissertations
28. Smith, R. (2021). ‘Gizza a job, I can do that’: What the literature tells us about how the inability to secure employment can lead to Ex-Offenders starting a business. ideas.repec.org. https://ideas.repec.org/h/spr/sprchp/978-3-030-66603-3_14.html
29. Van Wyk, M. (2015, July 3). Narrating an ex-convict’s story of becoming an entrepreneur Pages 1-9 - Flip PDF Download | FlipHTML5. https://fliphtml5.com/ebvz/bytv/basic
30. Walker, S. (2024).  "Beyond Incarceration: Identification of Post-Incarceration Strategies for Successful Reintegration". Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 15534. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/15534
31. Wanberg, C. R., Ali, A. A., & Csillag, B. (2019). Job Seeking: The process and experience of looking for a job. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 7(1), 315–337. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-012119-044939
32. Wanberg, C., Basbug, G., Van Hooft, E. A., & Samtani, A. (2012). Navigating the Black Hole: explicating layers of job search context and adaptational responses. Personnel Psychology, 65(4), 887–926. https://doi.org/10.1111/peps.12005
33. Wooll, M. (2024, March 6). Job search depression is real: Here’s how to overcome it. better up. https://www.betterup.com/blog/job-search-depression
34. Yu, T. (2018, January 3). Employment & Recidivism | Unemployment Recidivism. EBP Society. https://www.ebpsociety.org/blog/education/297-employment-recidivism