This Master’s Thesis problematizes that some job-promoting initiatives for Danish inmates, while there is labor shortage and the age of retirement is raised steadily, are still age-limited and thus only offered to inmates, that are between 18 and 30 years of age. More specifically, this paper aims to answer the research questions of why this age-limit exists, and which potentials and challenges the age-limit entails, seen from the point of view of both inmates and experts in the field. This paper is written in cooperation with the Danish prison Horserød Fængsel. To answer the research questions semi-structured interviews have been conducted with both inmates, providers of the job-promoting initiatives, and other experts in the field, as well as relevant laws and other literature has been examined.
It is found that the age-limit is established because of political and economic considerations, which organizations must follow in order to secure financial resources for the initiative in question. The current political focus on young criminals could be a possible explanation too. The age criterion, however, creates several challenges, including the following: First, organizations may have to compromise on their own values and principles, and engage in lobbying to ensure funding for the initiative. Secondly, the choosing of one group over another reminds one of ‘cherry-picking’ and thus leads to a stigmatization of the group of over 30-year-old inmates. Since there is no other similar initiative for the group of over 30-year-old inmates, the stigmatization furthermore leads to the weakening of inmate’s self-perception and bonds to society, which can result in the inmate losing motivation for a future life without engagement in crime. Although the age-limit constitutes a basis for different kinds of impact measurements, it can be assumed, based on the theories of social bonds, social control, and the age-crime-curve, that the older target group would respond at least as well as the younger group on a job-promoting initiative. A potential of the age criterion is, that it ensures a targeted effort for the younger, included group. Although it can be discussed, if the target groups of under and over 30-year-old inmates have the exact same needs, the idea of including the older target group is supported and demanded by both inmates, providers of the initiatives and other interviewed experts.