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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
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Results for ex-offenders, employment
25 results foundAuthor: Visher, Christy Title: Employment After Prison: A Longitudinal Study of Releasees in Three States Summary: This brief explores the reality of finding employment after prison from the perspective of 740 former male prisoners in Illinois, Ohio, and Texas. Interviews were conducted as part of a comprehensive, longitudinal study entitled Returning Home: Understanding the Challenges of Prisoner Reentry. Eight months after prison, 65 percent of respondents had been employed at some point, but only 45 percent were currently employed. Those who held a job while in prison or participated in job-training programs had better employment outcomes after release. Respondents who were employed and earning higher wages after release were less likely to return to prison the first year out. Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, Justice Policy Center, 2008. 9p. Source: Internet Resource; Research Brief Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 119544 Keywords: Ex-Offenders, EmploymentReentryRehabilitation |
Author: Shelupanov, Anton Title: Turning the Corner: Beyond Incarceration and Re-Offending Summary: This report makes the case for innovation in the justice sector - at policy, strategic and implementation levels, both locally and nationally. There is now widespread agreement that the system needs to change radically. But unfortunately there is not a sufficient number of proven alternatives to what exists which can simply be implemented and scaled up. Instead the system needs to become much more adept at designing, rapidly testing and then scaling new innovations in everything from helping former offenders into jobs to effectively supervising people on community sentences. This report assesses the current situation in terms of what the existing systemic challenges there are, what is being attempted to address them and how recent political and economic upheavals have affected the efforts of the justice system to reduce offending and strive for a safer society. Prison numbers are exceptionally high and the system is very expensive. At the same time major budget cuts mean that unless the system innovates, it may not be able to perform its function of keeping crime low and keeping the public safe. The Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke has signalled that he wants to see a rehabilitation revolution. Such a revolution would mean a radically new approach, rather than doing more of the same. In this report we propose a number of new ideas: A greater role for innovation in justice; Social Impact Bonds; and Enhancing the employment prospects of former offenders by introducing Deployers. Details: London: The Young Foundation, 2010. 104p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 19, 2010 at: http://www.youngfoundation.org/files/images/Turning_the_Corner.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.youngfoundation.org/files/images/Turning_the_Corner.pdf Shelf Number: 119640 Keywords: Criminal Justice Policy (U.K.)Ex-Offenders, EmploymentPrison Reform PolicyPrisoner ReentryRehabilitation |
Author: Western, Bruce Title: Collateral Costs: Incarceration's Effect on Economic Mobility Summary: Over the past 30 years, the United States has experienced explosive growth in its incarcerated population. The Pew Center on the States reported in 2008 that more than 1 in 100 adults is now behind bars in America, by far the highest rate of any nation. The direct cost of this imprisonment boom, in dollars, has been staggering: state correctional costs quadrupled over the past two decades and now top $50 billion a year, consuming 1 in every 15 general fund dollars. Looking at the same period of time, Pew’s Economic Mobility Project’s research has revealed a decidedly mixed picture of economic mobility in America. On the one hand, two-thirds of families have higher inflation-adjusted incomes than their parents did at a similar age. Given these favorable odds for each generation to earn a better living than the last, it is no wonder that, even in the depths of the country’s economic slump last year, 8 out of 10 Americans believed it was still possible to “get ahead.” Less encouraging, however, are the findings that describe how individuals’ economic rank compares to their parents’ rank at the same age, as well as data showing that race and parental income significantly impact economic mobility. For example, 42 percent of Americans whose parents were in the bottom fifth of the income ladder remain there themselves as adults. As for race, blacks are significantly more downwardly mobile than whites: almost half of black children born to solidly middle-income parents tumble to the bottom of the income distribution in adulthood, while just 16 percent of whites experience such a fall. With this report, our inquiry focuses on the intersection of incarceration and mobility, fields that might at first seem unrelated. We ask two questions: To what extent does incarceration create lasting barriers to economic progress for formerly incarcerated people, their families and their children? What do these barriers mean for the American Dream, given the explosive growth of the prison population? The findings in this report should give policy makers reason to reflect. The price of prisons in state and federal budgets represents just a fraction of the overall cost of incarcerating such a large segment of our society. The collateral consequences are tremendous and far-reaching, and as this report illuminates with fresh data and analysis, they include substantial and lifelong damage to the ability of former inmates, their families and their children to earn a living wage, move up the income ladder and pursue the American Dream. Details: Washington, DC: The Pew Charitable Trusts, 2010. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 6, 2010 at: http://www.economicmobility.org/assets/pdfs/EMP_Incarceration.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.economicmobility.org/assets/pdfs/EMP_Incarceration.pdf Shelf Number: 119869 Keywords: Ex-Offenders, EmploymentImprisonmentSocioeconomic Status |
Author: Flacks, Chuck Title: Prisoner Re-Entry Employment Program: Final Evaluation Report, 2006: Summary Recidivism Findings Summary: Recent newspaper headlines decry the state of California’s prisons. Dubbing them “overcrowded,” Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has called for more prisons to be built. On July 1, the U.S. District Court ordered that a federal receiver be put in charge of the California State Prisons’ health care system due to the high number of inmate deaths and in response to independent evaluations. The receiver, Robert Sillen, promptly called the system, “at best ‘in a state of abject disrepair.’ Given this problematic climate, a program that promises to help former inmates stay out of jail or prison and to become employed, productive members of society ought to be a welcome addition to California’s correctional system. This summary report describes such a program, started by a San Diego nonprofit, Second Chance. This report was commissioned as part of an evaluation of the Prisoner Re-entry Employment Program (PREP) supported by a grant from the California Endowment. Details: San Marcos, CA: The Social and Behavioral Research Institute, California State University San Marcos, 2006. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 29, 2011 at: http://www.secondchanceprogram.org/pdf/CSUSM_Report-Summary_RecidivismFindings.pdf Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: http://www.secondchanceprogram.org/pdf/CSUSM_Report-Summary_RecidivismFindings.pdf Shelf Number: 122225 Keywords: Ex-Offenders, EmploymentPrisoner Reentry (California)Rehabilitation |
Author: Lichtenberger, Eric J. Title: The Impact of Vocational Programs on Post-Release Outcomes for Full Completers from the Fiscal Year 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2000 Release Cohorts Summary: This report presents a statistical analysis of post-release outcomes for those prisoners who had completed a vocational program while in prison in Virginia for the fiscal years 1999-2002. Details: Richmond, VA: Center for Assessment, Evaluation, and Educational Programming, Virginia Tech, 2007. 33p. Source: Sprcial Report Series: Report Number 1: Available at the Don M. Gottfredson Library of Criminal Justice, Rutgers University Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 12227 Keywords: Correctional ProgramsEx-Offenders, EmploymentPrisoner Reentry (Virginia)RecidivismVocational Education and Training |
Author: Center for Employment Opportunities Title: The Power of Work: The Center for Employment Opportunities Comprehensive Prisoner Reentry Program Summary: States and localities across the United States are feeling the after-effects of a 25-year incarceration binge. In a period of just 15 years, from 1980 to 1995, the number of people incarcerated in federal and state prisons and local jails more than tripled, from about 500,000 to more than 1.5 million. Today, more than 2 million people are behind bars nationwide. Since almost all prisoners are eventually released, an incarceration boom necessarily translates into a reentry boom. In fact, more than 600,000 people are released from prison each year. Unfortunately, most end up back in the criminal justice system before long. With state and local budgets strained by the high cost of incarceration, breaking the cycle of recidivism is one promising way to shrink the prison population — as well as to increase public safety and to improve the well-being of former prisoners, their families, and their communities. Ex-prisoners face a daunting set of obstacles to reentry, but securing employment may be the biggest challenge of all. The unemployment rate of formerly incarcerated people one year after release may be as high as 60 percent, and there is an increasing reluctance among employers to hire people with criminal histories. Further, studies show that inmates reentering communities are most vulnerable to failure in the early stages after release from jail or prison. Since the late 1970s, New York City’s Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) has addressed the relationship between work and crime. Through a highly structured program of pre-employment training, immediate short-term transitional employment, and full-time job placement services, CEO helps close to 2,000 men and women each year to take the crucial first steps toward staying out of prison and returning to their families and communities. Details: New York: Center for Employment Opportunities, 2006. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 3, 2011 at: http://www.mdrc.org/publications/426/full.pdf Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: http://www.mdrc.org/publications/426/full.pdf Shelf Number: 122297 Keywords: Ex-Offenders, EmploymentPrisoner Reentry |
Author: Western, Bruce Title: From Prison to Work: A Proposal for a National Prisoner Reentry Program Summary: Around seven hundred thousand mostly low-income and minority men and women are released from prison each year. Returning to lives of low wages and high rates of unemployment, about two thirds will be rearrested within three years. I propose a national prisoner reentry program whose core element is up to a year of transitional employment available to all parolees in need of work. Transitional jobs are supplemented by substance-abuse treatment and housing after release, expanded work and educational programs in prison, and the restoration of eligibility for federal benefits for those with felony records. The program costs are offset by increased employment and reduced crime and correctional costs for program participants. By shifting supervision from custody in prison to intensive programs in the community, the national reentry program improves economic opportunity and reduces prison populations. Details: Washington, DC: The Brookings Institute, The Hamilton Project, 2008. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Discussion Paper 2008-16: Accessed August 5, 2011 at: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/papers/2008/12_prison_to_work_western/12_prison_to_work_western.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/papers/2008/12_prison_to_work_western/12_prison_to_work_western.pdf Shelf Number: 122303 Keywords: Ex-Offenders, EmploymentParoleesPrisoner Reentry (U.S.) |
Author: Bryan, Jennifer L. Title: CEO’s Rapid Rewards Program: Using Incentives to Promote Employment Retention for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals Summary: Every year, over 650,000 Americans return home to their communities from prison. Close to 10 million return from jail. They need to find jobs. But the formerly incarcerated face significant barriers to employment, including a lack of education and occupational skills, limited or no work history, and minimal support systems (Petersilia 2003). They also face the burden of a felony conviction as they attempt to re-enter community life. Not surprisingly, most do not succeed. Failure occurs quickly, often within the first months after release. Fully two-thirds of all those released from prison on parole will be rearrested within three years. Over 50 percent will return to prison or jail (Langin and Levin 2002). There is little doubt that unemployment contributes to the cycle of incarceration. In New York State, 89 percent of those who violate the terms of their probation or parole are unemployed at the time of violation (Mukamal 2000). This strongly suggests that employment can play a crucial role in breaking the cycle of incarceration. CEO began as a demonstration project of the Vera Institute of Justice to test this very idea: what would happen if people coming home from prison or jail were offered paid transitional work? The project evolved into CEO’s signature work experience program, the Neighborhood Work Project (NWP), which provides paid, time-limited employment and serves as an "employment lab," preparing participants with essential skills to rejoin the workforce and restart their lives. At the same time, CEO works to place participants in full-time, unsubsidized employment and follows up through the first year of such employment, providing retention and advancement counseling and referrals. Within the field of reentry and workforce development, CEO is widely recognized as a leader for its proven ability to place the most “difficult to employ” individuals in full-time jobs. Since becoming an independent nonprofit in 1996, CEO has made over 10,000 full-time job placements for formerly incarcerated persons. CEO provides: (1) pre-employment job readiness training through one week of intensive classroom instruction; (2) meetings with a job coach; (3) paid transitional work at one of CEO’s supervised work sites throughout New York City; (4) vocational assessment and job development with a job developer; (5) unsubsidized job placement; and (6) job retention support. In the last few years, CEO has begun to focus more carefully on not only helping participants get placed in jobs, but ensuring that they remain employed for longer periods. Achieving lasting results requires following up with participants to track their employment retention, learn more about the issues they face, and encourage them to remain employed. CEO has a “follow up” unit that tracks and independently verifies participants’ employment. Once a participant is placed in a job by CEO, a staff member from the follow up unit contacts the employer or parole officer to verify the job start date, wages, title, hours, and other employment information. CEO also has a post-placement unit that provides support to help people stay in the workforce. An important part of post-placement services is CEO’s Rapid Rewards Program. Details: New York: CEO Learning Institute, 2007. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 5, 2011 at: http://www.alaskachd.org/justice/offender/documents/CEO%20Rapid%20Rewards%20Program.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://www.alaskachd.org/justice/offender/documents/CEO%20Rapid%20Rewards%20Program.pdf Shelf Number: 122315 Keywords: Ex-Offenders, EmploymentPrisoner Reentry (New York)RecidivismRehabilitation |
Author: Brown, Russell R., III Title: Expungement and Collateral Sanctions. The Other Side of Justice: A Look at Rehabilitated and Otherwise Harmless Persons And The Long Term Effect Of Having a Criminal Record Summary: Two strikes and you’re out! In Ohio, because expungements are reserved for first time criminal offenders only, one may be treated as a career criminal after the second conviction of a misdemeanor and/or felony offense. In many states one may be treated as such even after his or her first criminal offense where expungement is not available at all. Because there are no restrictions on the use of a person’s conviction status, the state of Ohio and its employers may exclude a person from employment and other opportunities based solely upon their conviction status, whether one is truly a career criminal or not. Within this loose standard, the author explores specific research on: (1) the opinions of Ohio municipal court judges on the policy and practice of expungement and (2) the rate of expungements granted for persons convicted of a first offense in the Cleveland Municipal Court Selective Intervention Program. The goal of the research is to observe both how the justice system sees and responds to rehabilitated and otherwise harmless persons with a criminal record and what effect having the criminal record has on those persons’ ability to compete for available job opportunities. This research also identifies what support there is for ending indefinite punishment placed on those rehabilitated and otherwise harmless persons who may be denied employment opportunities based solely upon their having a criminal record. The significance of this research is that it addresses the fact that years after their last conviction, rehabilitated and otherwise harmless persons with criminal records who are otherwise qualified for a job, are often treated by employers, the justice system, and society the same as if they were habitually criminal persons because of their convictions status. Details: Williamsburg, VA: Institute for Court Management, Court Executive Development Program, 2006. 134p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 9, 2011 at: http://www.ncsc.org/~/media/files/pdf/education%20and%20careers/cedp%20papers/2006/brownrussellrcedpfinal0506.ashx Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: http://www.ncsc.org/~/media/files/pdf/education%20and%20careers/cedp%20papers/2006/brownrussellrcedpfinal0506.ashx Shelf Number: 122336 Keywords: Criminal Records (Ohio)Ex-Offenders, EmploymentExpungementPrisoner Reentry |
Author: Minnesota. Department of Corrections Title: An Evaluation of the Prisoner Reentry Initiative: Final Report Summary: In 2008, the Minnesota Department of Corrections (MNDOC) implemented the Prisoner Reentry Initiative (PRI), a pilot project serving offenders incarcerated at the Minnesota Correctional Facility (MCF)-Faribault who were released to regular supervision in Hennepin and Ramsey counties. PRI was developed on the premise that recidivism can be reduced by enhancing the delivery of critical services and programming to offenders as they make the transition from prison to the community. To improve service delivery, PRI used reentry coordinators who worked closely with institutional and community corrections staff to help connect offender participants to services and programming in both prison and the community that addressed their individual risks, strengths, and needs. In addition, to help participants find post-release employment — one of the main objectives of PRI — the MNDOC contracted with Goodwill/Easter Seals, which provided vocational services that included a work skills and career interest assessment, job search and placement assistance, transitional employment, and skills training. To evaluate whether the PRI pilot project was effective in reducing recidivism, the MNDOC used a quasi-experimental design with a historical comparison group. Offenders who participated in PRI were compared with a similar group of offenders who met the eligibility criteria and were released from MCF-Faribault during the 14 months preceding implementation of PRI to supervision in one of the two participating counties. Recidivism data were collected through the end of June 2010. As a result, the follow-up period ranged from 6 to 18 months, with an average of 12 months. Although this evaluation was unable to comprehensively track the provision of services and programming to offenders in both the PRI and comparison groups, data were collected on the extent to which offenders were able to obtain and maintain employment during the first year following release from prison. Details: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2011. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 11, 2011 at: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/PRIEvaluationReportFinal.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/PRIEvaluationReportFinal.pdf Shelf Number: 122369 Keywords: Ex-Offenders, EmploymentPrisoner Reentry (Minnesota)RecidivismRehabilitationVocational Education and Training |
Author: Minnesota. Department of Corrections Title: An Outcome Evaluation of MINNCOR's EMPLOY Program Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of EMPLOY, a prisoner reentry employment program, by examining recidivism and post-release employment outcomes among 464 offenders released from Minnesota prisons between 2006 and 2008. Because outcome data were collected on the 464 offenders through the end of June 2010, the average follow-up period was 28 months. Observable selection bias was minimized by using propensity score matching to create a comparison group of 232 non-participants who were not significantly different from the 232 EMPLOY offenders. Results from the Cox regression analyses revealed that participating in EMPLOY reduced the hazard ratio for recidivism by 32-63 percent. The findings further showed that EMPLOY increased the odds of gaining post-release employment by 72 percent. Although EMPLOY did not have a significant impact on hourly wage, the overall post-release wages for program participants were significantly higher because they worked a greater number of hours. The study concludes by discussing the implications of these findings. Details: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2011. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 12, 2011 at: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/03-11EMPLOYEvaluation.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/03-11EMPLOYEvaluation.pdf Shelf Number: 122375 Keywords: Correctional ProgramsEmploymentEx-Offenders, EmploymentPrisoner Reentry (Minnesota)Recidivism |
Author: Bellotti, Jeanne Title: Examining a New Model for Prisoner Re-Entry Services: The Evaluation Of Beneficiary Choice Summary: In July 2007, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training Administration created the Beneficiary Choice Program, a demonstration to help ex-offenders successfully enter and remain in the workforce and stay free of crime. DOL awarded five grantees a total of $10 million through two rounds of grants to serve approximately 450 participants each. To be eligible to receive services, ex-offenders had to be between the ages of 18 and 29, within 60 days after release of incarceration, and convicted of a federal or state crime. DOL contracted with Mathematica Policy Research to evaluate how the program unfolded over time. This report presents the findings of this evaluation. The evaluation was designed to describe the implementation of the program, the short-term outcomes of participants, and the costs of providing services. It addresses six research questions: (1) How do grantees plan for, implement, and operate the program? (2) How do grantees ensure that participants have a true and independent choice of providers? (3) How does performance-based contracting influence implementation? (4) What are the characteristics of participants and what services do they receive? (5) What are the employment outcomes and recidivism rates of participants? (6) What are the costs of the program? Details: Princeton, NJ: Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., 2011. 138p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 16, 2011 at: http://www.dol.gov/asp/evaluation/reports/20110316.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.dol.gov/asp/evaluation/reports/20110316.pdf Shelf Number: 122409 Keywords: Ex-Offenders, EmploymentPrisoner ReentryRecidivismRehabilitation |
Author: Morris, Monique W. Title: A Higher Hurdle: Barriers to Employment for Formerly Incarcerated Women Summary: Today there are more than two million incarcerated men, women, and children in the United States, with more than 167,000 men and women incarcerated in California’s 33 adult prisons alone. In 2008, one in every 100 Americans is incarcerated, with higher rates of incarceration for men and women of color, particularly African Americans. As a result of disproportionate arrest rates and punitive responses to drug and property crimes, women comprise the fastest-growing segment of the incarcerated population. In California, two-thirds of incarcerated women are mothers of children under the age of 18, compared to about half of the population of incarcerated men. Nationwide, more than five million men and women are on probation or parole, comprising the majority of the 7.2 million people who are under some form of criminal justice system supervision in the United States. In the second quarter of 2008, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation reported 125,097 men and women on parole, a disproportionate number of whom are people of color, and a growing number of whom are women and parents. Research has confirmed that a criminal record presents a barrier to formerly incarcerated men who seek employment because many employers have negative attitudes toward people with a criminal record. Additionally, job seekers with criminal records are challenged by the increasing frequency with which potential employers inquire about the arrest and conviction history of applicants and perform background checks on leading candidates. There is, however, a dearth of research examining the specific challenges that formerly incarcerated women face when seeking employment. Researchers at the Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice (HCSJ) at the UC Berkeley Law School sought to fill this void by examining whether a history of incarceration has an impact on employment opportunities for women. Additionally, researchers examined whether the race and ethnicity of female job applicants impacted employment opportunities. This study is one of the first to combine a matched-pair testing methodology and participatory research strategy to measure potential differential treatment among formerly incarcerated women seeking employment. Researchers in this study worked closely with an Advisory Committee comprised of women who are formerly incarcerated or who work with formerly incarcerated women in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. For this study, researchers conducted 1200 résumé tests; in each test, one résumé included a subtle reference to a period of incarceration and one did not. Résumés were submitted for six racial and ethnic groups, including African American, Latina American, Pacific Islander American (Samoan), Asian American (Vietnamese), and White American. Arabic names that suggest an affiliation with Islam were also included. Additionally, HCSJ researchers conducted focus groups and interviews with forty formerly incarcerated women and developed an annotated bibliography of literature examining employment barriers for women with a criminal record. A Higher Hurdle: Barriers to Employment for Incarcerated Women found that a criminal record has a negative impact on employment opportunities of women. Formerly incarcerated women are significantly less likely than non-formerly incarcerated women to receive a positive response (5.5% vs. 8.0%, respectively) from potential employers and face a number of mental, financial, and physical barriers to seeking and retaining employment. Details: Berkeley, CA: University of California - Berkeley, School of Law, Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice, 2008. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 31, 2011 at: http://www.law.berkeley.edu/files/A_Higher_Hurdle_December_2008(1).pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.law.berkeley.edu/files/A_Higher_Hurdle_December_2008(1).pdf Shelf Number: 122566 Keywords: Ex-Offenders, EmploymentFemale OffendersMinority GroupsPrisoner Reentry (California) |
Author: Leicht, Christine Title: Chattanooga Endeavors Building Bridges Program Evaluation: Outcomes Report Summary: The primary purpose of the Building Bridges program was to increase the likelihood that offenders released into the Chattanooga/Hamilton County area of Tennessee would avoid re-arrest and re-incarceration by obtaining meaningful employment. The program was based on the idea that it takes time for ex-offenders to become reintegrated into their community and that they need support throughout the process. The program attempted to support clients by improving the community's capacity to accept ex-offenders while increasing client ability to contribute to society. This outcome evaluation focused on the following three research questions using a quasi-experimental design with a comparison group: Does the program have an effect on recidivism?; Does the program have an effect on employment?; and Does the program have an effect on successful supervision? Details: Unpublished report to the U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2007. 255p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 3, 2011 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/235576.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/235576.pdf Shelf Number: 122637 Keywords: Ex-Offenders, EmploymentParolee SupervisionPrisoner Reentry (Kentucky)RecidivismRehabilitation |
Author: Evans, Michael Title: Tracking Washington State Offenders Pilot Study: Do Education Programs Affect Employment Outcomes? Summary: Substantial barriers to legal employment exist for former prison offenders after their release, such as finding a job with a livable wage and keeping the job are also more difficult due to their previous criminal histories and lower education levels compared to the general population. However, offenders participating in academic degree programs from Walla Walla Community College were employed at 25.5 percent level one year after release in 2009 compared to 15.7 percent of offenders with similar demographic characteristics, and recidivated at a lower rate (19.6 percent compared to 36 percent, respectively). Holding a job is an important signal that the individual is moving toward a crime-free life. Not only are these individuals working and crime-free, they are also taxpayers and consumers who help the local economies grow. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington State Department of Corrections, 2011. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 16, 2011 at: http://www.doc.wa.gov/aboutdoc/measuresstatistics/docs/EmploymentEducation.docx Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.doc.wa.gov/aboutdoc/measuresstatistics/docs/EmploymentEducation.docx Shelf Number: 122759 Keywords: Correctional EducationEx-Offenders, EmploymentPrisoner Reentry (Washington State)RecidivismRehabilitation |
Author: Albright, Danielle Title: An Evaluation of a New Mexico Department of Corrections Dental Treatment Program: Findings from Participant Intake Interviews Summary: In March 2008, the New Mexico Department of Corrections (NMDOC) Education Bureau, in collaboration with the NMDOC Probation and Parole Division, implemented a pilot dental repair program for parolees currently under NMDOC supervision. The intent of the program is to provide services for parolees with significant dental problems in hopes of reducing visible barriers to employment, thus increasing their chances of successful reentry. The program was funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice under the Edward Byrne Memorial Grant Program. The NMDOC contracted the University of New Mexico Hospital Dentistry Department to perform dental treatments. The New Mexico Statistical Analysis Center (NMSAC) at the University of New Mexico‘s Institute for Social Research (ISR) was contracted to provide an evaluation of program implementation and outcomes. There is a substantial body of research suggesting that dental health is a major problem for prisoners. Researchers have consistently found that prisoners report significantly more dental problems than the general population (Lund et al., 2002; Mixson et al., 1990, O‘Brien and Lee, 2006, Salive, Corolla, & Brewer, 1989). While this clearly suggests a medical need for expanded dental treatment for prisoners, the prevalence of dental problems for prisoners may also have implications for reentry. Given the large prison population in United States today (Listwan et al., 2008) and that an estimated 67.5% of inmates are rearrested within three years of being released (Langan and Levin, 2002), the issue of prisoner reentry has been described as at "the forefront of domestic public policy" (Kubrin and Stewart, 2006: 166) and is currently receiving a large amount of attention from academics and practitioners. While a substantial body of research has investigated the individual factors associated with reentry success (Benedict & Huff-Cordine, 1997; Ulmer, 2001; Listwan et al., 2003), research on reentry has not yet examined the influence of dental health and dental treatment on recidivism. This may be an important oversight, as previous research suggests two mechanisms through which dental health may be linked to reentry success. First, a small body of research suggests that physical appearance is correlated with perceived criminality, affecting the way a person is treated by both the general public and the criminal justice system and therefore indirectly influencing recidivism outcomes (Bull, 1982). In this sense, improving the dental appearance of ex-offenders may reduce their perceived criminality, which in turn may result in more legitimate opportunities. Research also suggests that dental health and appearance are related to self-esteem (Patzer, 1995), which in turn is thought to be linked to desistance. More specifically, research suggests that self-appraisals of dental appearance were more strongly related to self-esteem than general appraisals of appearance (Kanealy et al., 1991) and that missing teeth were especially problematic (Oosterhaven, Westert, & Schaub, 1989). As a whole, this research indicates that negatively perceived dental appearance and poor dental health are related to decreased levels of self-esteem. Self-esteem, which is related to other social psychological constructs like self-efficacy and sense of control (Skinner, 1996), is thought to be an important component in the desistance process. This is exemplified by Maruna (2001, 2006), who argues that desistance is only possible when offenders adopt a prosocial identity and empirically demonstrates that self-perceptions are related to post release success (2004). Second, dental treatment may be related to employment success. Research has shown that dental and facial appearance is strongly correlated with evaluations of attractiveness and professionalism (Eli, Bar-Tal, & Kostovetzki, 2001) and that employer evaluations of attractiveness and professionalism are related to employability (Avrey & Campion, 1982; Rankin & Borah, 2003). Perhaps more importantly, research suggests that dental treatment is related to favorable occupational outcomes. While a host of other factors are likely to be more directly related to employment outcomes, early research on this topic revealed that five years after treatment, there was still a modest, yet significant, positive relationship between occupational rank and having received dental treatment (Rutzen, 1973). More recently, a study of dental intervention for welfare recipients found that individuals who participated in a dental treatment program and received all prescribed treatment were twice as likely to report a favorable or neutral employment outcome as individuals who did not complete the program (Hyde, Satariano, & Weintraub, 2006). The relationship between dental appearance and employability is important for evaluating the reentry process, as sociological and criminological research suggests that there may be a relationship between incarceration and unemployment (Freeman, 1992; Laub & Sampson, 1993), incarceration and earnings potential (Western, 2002; Western, Kling, & Weiman, 2001) and employment and recidivism (Uggen, 2000; Uggen & Staff, 2001). The issue of employability is of extra importance for ex-prisoners, as this population suffers from both a general lack of work-related skills (Graffam, Shinkfield, & Hardcastle, 2008) and from the stigma associated with being an ex-convict (Uggen, Manza, & Behrens, 2003). Details: Albuquerque, NM: New Mexico Statistical Analysis Center, 2009. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 28, 2011 at: http://nmsac.unm.edu/contact_information/nmsac_publications/ Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://nmsac.unm.edu/contact_information/nmsac_publications/ Shelf Number: 122933 Keywords: Dental CareEx-Offenders, EmploymentHealth CareParoleesPrisoner Reentry (New Mexico)Recidivism |
Author: Albright, Danielle Title: Reducing Barriers to Re-Entry: Assessing the Implementation and Impact of a Pilot Dental Repair Program for Parolees Summary: In March 2008, the New Mexico Department of Corrections (NMDOC) Education Bureau, in collaboration with the NMDOC Probation and Parole Division, implemented a pilot dental repair program for parolees currently under NMDOC supervision. The intent of the program was to provide services for parolees with significant dental problems in hopes of reducing visible barriers to employment, thus increasing their chances of successful reentry. The program was funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice under the Edward Byrne Memorial Grant Program. The NMDOC contracted with the University of New Mexico Hospital Dentistry Department to perform dental treatments. The New Mexico Statistical Analysis Center (SAC) at the University of New Mexico’s Institute for Social Research (ISR) was contracted to provide an evaluation of program implementation and outcomes. The NMSAC issued a report in December, 2009, detailing program implementation. The current report focuses on program outcomes. The primary objectives for this report (continuing from the initial report) include: Objective 4: To examine the effect of population characteristics (demographic, education, employment, criminal history, and corrections history) on three outcomes--completion of the dental treatment, completion of the program, and probation/parole performance. Objective 5: To describe how participants articulate the impact of dental treatment on education, employment, and personal relationships. We will also compare participant reported effects to those anticipated prior to receiving the dental treatment. Objective 6: To assess how participants experienced the dental treatment program from intake to completion. Here we focus on participant perceptions of the organization and delivery of the dental treatment program. Objective 7: To assess the fidelity of program delivery with program goals and objectives. Details: Albuquerque, NM: New Mexico Statistical Analysis Center, 2011. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 28, 2011 at: Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 122934 Keywords: Dental CareEx-Offenders, EmploymentHealth CareParoleesPrisoner Reentry (New Mexico)Recidivism |
Author: MacDonald, Stephen Title: Industry Recognized Certification: A Pathway to Reentry Summary: This report indicates that industry recognized certifications are effective in reducing recidivism by providing inmates with the skills and qualifications that industries look for in their employees; by providing a pool of skilled workers for industries, particularly in high-growth occupations; and can be an effective tool for correctional systems to increase the rate of successful reentry of inmates by providing a foundation upon which a released inmate can build and demonstrate to employers that they are ready to work in their field and add value to the business. Inmates who gain a certification increase the probability of gaining employment and reducing the risk of re-offending. Information is provided on the need for skilled labor, the need for certification, incorporating certifications into a correctional facility, currently available certifications, and possible certifications that will be available in the future. Details: Centerville, UT: MTC Institute, 2010. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 10, 2012 at Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 124422 Keywords: Correctional EducationEx-Offenders, EmploymentPrisoner ReentryVocational Education and Training |
Author: Potter, Phoebe Margaret Title: Employment and the Desistance Process: The Effect of Employment Status and Wages on Criminal Recidivism among Young Adults Summary: Every year, thousands of ex-convicts in the United States undergo the challenging process of reentering society. Contact with the criminal justice system can disrupt critical developmental experiences for young adults, often resulting in these individuals continuing a life of crime. The purpose of this study is to determine if employment is an effective way for young adults to re-transition into society after being convicted for a crime, and therefore increases the likelihood of desistance from crime. Using data from the NLSY 1997 cohort, the effects of employment status, weekly employment hours, and income on the length of time before an individual recidivates are estimated with Cox proportional hazard models. The results suggest that employment and income both have statistically significant negative relationships with recidivism. These findings are robust even when controlling for other factors that may be spuriously related to both employment and recidivism. Details: Washington, DC: Georgetown University, 2012. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed July 24, 2012 at: http://repository.library.georgetown.edu/bitstream/handle/10822/553877/potterPhoebe.pdf?sequence=1 Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://repository.library.georgetown.edu/bitstream/handle/10822/553877/potterPhoebe.pdf?sequence=1 Shelf Number: 125749 Keywords: Ex-Convicts, EmploymentEx-Offenders, EmploymentPrisoner ReentryRecidivism |
Author: Morenoff, Jeffrey D. Title: Final Technincal Report: Neighborhoods, Recidivism, and Employment Among Returning Prisoners Summary: The rising number of individuals being released from prison has prompted renewed interest among researchers, policy makers, and practitioners in reintegrating former prisoners. Yet relatively little is known about the communities into which former prisoners return and how they affect the likelihood that former prisoners will secure stable employment or return to prison. This research fills an important gap in the literature on prisoner reentry by focusing on the role that community context plays in the labor market outcomes and recidivism of former prisoners. A rich set of longitudinal administrative records were assembled on individuals paroled in Michigan during 2003, including records from corrections, police, and unemployment insurance databases. This report describes the data collected and presents results indicating that neighborhood context predicted both the recidivism and labor market outcomes of former prisoners. The analysis considered the association between baseline neighborhood characteristics (first post-prison neighborhood) and cumulative exposure to neighborhood conditions during one’s time on parole. The analysis of baseline neighborhood characteristics was based on the full population of 11,064 people released on parole in Michigan in 2003, whereas the analysis of time-varying neighborhood characteristics was based on a 1/6 sample (n=1,848). Returning to a more disadvantaged baseline neighborhood was associated with higher risks of absconding and returning to prison for a technical violation, a lower risk of being arrested, and more adverse labor market outcomes, including less employment and lower wages. Cumulative exposure to disadvantaged neighborhoods was associated with lower employment and wages but not related to recidivism. Returning to a more affluent baseline neighborhood was associated with a lower risk of being arrested, absconding, and returning to prison on a technical violation, and more positive labor market outcomes, including greater employment and wages. However, cumulative exposure to affluent neighborhoods was not significantly related to any of the recidivism or labor market outcomes when the full set of controls were added to models. Returning to a more residentially stable baseline neighborhood was associated with a lower risk of absconding and returning to prison for a new conviction, but not with any labor market outcomes; nor was cumulative exposure to residentially stable neighborhoods associated with any recidivism or labor market outcomes. Returning to a baseline neighborhood with a younger age structure was negatively related to the odds of returning to prison on a technical violation, but when measured as cumulative exposure it was associated with an increased risk of being arrested, absconding, and being returned to prison for either a new commitment or technical violation. Being employed substantially reduced the risk of all recidivism outcomes, but there was no evidence that employment mediated the association between neighborhoods and recidivism. Together, these results suggest that the neighborhoods parolees experience during parole were strong predictors of recidivism and labor market outcomes, but there is not a simple answer to the question of what neighborhood characteristics constitute “risky” environments for parolees. Neighborhood socioeconomic composition was a strong predictor of labor market outcomes, as parolees residing in disadvantaged neighborhoods had difficulty securing employment and escaping poverty. For recidivism, the protective effect of living in a residentially stabile neighborhood and the risks posed by spending more time in neighborhoods with higher densities of young people were the most robust predictors. From a policy perspective, these findings suggest that parole outcomes might be improved through more careful evaluation of a parolee’s neighborhood context when approving new residences, placement of institutional housing for former prisoners in more advantaged neighborhoods, inclusion of neighborhood context in risk assessments to better target services to former prisoners in high risk neighborhoods, and place-based parole strategies involving geographically based agent caseloads. Details: Ann Arbor, MI: Population Studies Center and Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, 2011. 132p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 1, 2012 at https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/236436.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/236436.pdf Shelf Number: 125825 Keywords: Ex-Offenders, EmploymentNeighborhoodsPrisoner ReentryRecidivismReintegration, Offenders |
Author: Yahner, Jennifer Title: Which Components of Transitional Jobs Programs Work Best? Analysis of Programs for Former Prisoners in the Transitional Jobs Reentry Demonstration Summary: Different components of transitional jobs (TJ) programs may improve employment and recidivism outcomes among former prisoners. Using data from the Transitional Jobs Reentry Demonstration evaluation, we found that former prisoners who spent 30 workdays or more in a TJ were 14 percent more likely to obtain an unsubsidized job in the subsequent six months (45% vs. 31%). No other TJ program components (e.g., job development, case management, retention bonuses) individually affected employment or recidivism. Although non-experimental, analyses incorporated regression-based adjustments for selection bias. Future research evaluating different components of TJ programs via random assignment design is recommended. Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2012. 17p. Source: Research Brief: Internet Resource: Accessed August 14, 2012 at http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412571-TJRD_Special_Report_May-2012.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412571-TJRD_Special_Report_May-2012.pdf Shelf Number: 126028 Keywords: Evaluative StudiesEx-Offenders, EmploymentEx-Offenders, ReintegrationPrisoner Reentry |
Author: Schochet, Peter Z. Title: National Job Corps Study and Longer-Term Follow- Up Study: Impact and Benefit-Cost Findings Using Survey and Summary Earnings Records Data Summary: Job Corps stands out as the nation’s largest, most comprehensive education and job training program for disadvantaged youths. It serves disadvantaged youths between the ages of 16 and 24, primarily in a residential setting. The program’s goal is to help youths become more responsible, employable, and productive citizens. Each year, it serves more than 60,000 new participants at a cost of about $1.5 billion, which is more than 60 percent of all funds spent by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) on youth training and employment services. Because Job Corps is one of the most expensive education and training programs currently available to youths, DOL sponsored the National Job Corps Study (conducted from 1993 to mid-2004) to examine the effectiveness of the program. Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. (MPR), was the prime contractor for the study, with subcontractors Battelle Human Affairs Research Centers and Decision Information Resources, Inc. (DIR). DOL subsequently contracted with MPR to examine longer-term earnings impacts and benefit-cost comparisons using the same Job Corps sample and earnings data from administrative records. The Job Corps evaluation was designed to address the following research questions: • How effective is Job Corps overall at improving the outcomes of its participants? Does the program increase educational attainment and literacy? Does it reduce criminal behavior and the receipt of welfare benefits? And, most importantly, does it improve postprogram employment and earnings? • Do Job Corps impacts differ across groups defined by youth and center characteristics and for residents and nonresidents? Do impacts differ by age, gender, race and ethnicity, arrest history, or educational level? Are impacts associated with center performance level, type of center operator, or center size? • Do program benefits exceed program costs? Is Job Corps a good investment of society’s resources? The Job Corps study is based on an experimental design where, from late 1994 to early 1996, nearly 81,000 eligible applicants nationwide were randomly assigned to either a program group, whose members were allowed to enroll in Job Corps, or to a control group, whose 6,000 members were not. The study research questions have been addressed by comparing the outcomes of program and control group members using survey data collected during the four years after random assignment and using administrative earnings records covering the ten years after random assignment (at which point sample members were between the ages of 26 and 34). This report is the final in a series of project reports presenting impact and benefit-cost findings from this large-scale random assignment evaluation of Job Corps.1 The report serves two main purposes. First, it presents an additional year of earnings impacts to those presented in the previous project report (Schochet and Burghardt 2005) and updates findings from the benefitcost analysis. Second, it places the earnings impact findings in perspective, by providing a comprehensive summary of key study findings across all project reports. Thus, this selfcontained report pulls together and interprets the main evaluation results from the past twelve years. Details: Princeton, NJ: Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., 2006. 98p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 4, 2012 at: http://wdr.doleta.gov/research/FullText_Documents/National%20Job%20Corps%20Study%20and%20Longer%20Term%20Follow-Up%20Study%20-%20Final%20Report.pdf Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: http://wdr.doleta.gov/research/FullText_Documents/National%20Job%20Corps%20Study%20and%20Longer%20Term%20Follow-Up%20Study%20-%20Final%20Report.pdf Shelf Number: 126236 Keywords: Cost-Benefit AnalysisEmployment (U.S.)Ex-Offenders, EmploymentJob TrainingVocational Education and Training |
Author: Leshnick, Sukey Soukamneuth Title: Evaluation of the Re-Integration of Ex-Offenders (RExO) Program: Interim Report Summary: The Reintegration of Ex-Offenders (RExO) initiative was launched in 2005 as a joint initiative by the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and the Department of Justice. RExO was set up to strengthen urban communities heavily affected by the challenges associated with high numbers of prisoners seeking to re-enter their communities following the completion of their sentences. It does so by funding employment-focused programs that include mentoring and capitalize on the strengths of faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs). In June 2009, ETA contracted with Social Policy Research Associates (SPR), and its subcontractors MDRC and the National Opinion Research Center (NORC), to conduct a random assignment (RA) impact evaluation of the 24 RExO grantees that had been in operation for more than three years. The RA study largely took place during the fifth year of these grantees' operations. A critical component of this evaluation is an implementation study, which includes two rounds of site visits to each of the 24 RExO grantees and alternative providers in their communities. This report summarizes the key findings from this implementation study; including findings on the community context and general structure of the RExO grantees; their recruitment, intake and enrollment strategies; the RA process itself; the services RExO grantees and their partners provide; the specific partnerships in place to provide services; and the services available through alternative providers (to which comparison group members were referred) in the 24 communities. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor/ETA, 2012. 167p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 14, 2013 at: http://wdr.doleta.gov/research/FullText_Documents/ETAOP_2012_09.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://wdr.doleta.gov/research/FullText_Documents/ETAOP_2012_09.pdf Shelf Number: 127615 Keywords: Community OrganizationsEx-Offenders, EmploymentFaith-Based OrganizationsOffender Reentry (U.S.)Prisoner ReentryReintegration |
Author: Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Title: Best Practice Standards: The Proper Use of Criminal Records in Hiring Summary: Hiring new employees is a critically important function in any business, government agency, or non-profit organization. Every hiring decision represents a major investment that employers must make with limited information. Checking criminal history is just a small part of this process, which may also include verifying education, prior employment and other reference information. The Best Practice Standards will help employers properly weigh adverse personal history to find those applicants who will contribute most to the productivity of the organization. Details: Washington, DC: Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, 2013. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 9, 2013 at: http://www.lawyerscommittee.org/admin/employment_discrimination/documents/files/Best-Practices-Standards-The-Proper-Use-of-Criminal-Records-in-Hiring.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.lawyerscommittee.org/admin/employment_discrimination/documents/files/Best-Practices-Standards-The-Proper-Use-of-Criminal-Records-in-Hiring.pdf Shelf Number: 129309 Keywords: Criminal Records (U.S.)Employee ScreeningEx-Offenders, Employment |
Author: Harding, David J. Title: Making Ends Meet after Prison: How Former Prisoners Use Employment, Social Support, Public Benefits, and Crime to Meet their Basic Material Needs Summary: Former prisoners are at high risk of economic insecurity due to the challenges they face in finding employment and to the difficulties of securing and maintaining public assistance while incarcerated. This study examines the processes through which former prisoners attain economic security, examining how they meet basic material needs and achieve upward mobility over time. It draws on unique qualitative data from in-depth, unstructured interviews with a sample of former prisoners followed over a two to three year period to assess how subjects draw upon a combination of employment, social supports, and public benefits to make ends meet. Findings reveal considerable struggle to meet even minimal needs for shelter and food, although economic security and stability can be attained when employment or public benefits are coupled with familial social support. Sustained economic security was rarely achieved absent either strong social support or access to long-term public benefits. However, a select few subjects were able to leverage material support and social networks provided by family and partners into trajectories of upward mobility and economic independence. Implications for the wellbeing of former prisoners and their families are discussed. Details: Ann Arbor, MI: Population Studies Center, University of Michigan Institute for Social Research, 2011. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: Population Studies Center Research Report 11-748: Accessed August 19, 2013 at: http://www.psc.isr.umich.edu/pubs/pdf/rr11-748.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.psc.isr.umich.edu/pubs/pdf/rr11-748.pdf Shelf Number: 129656 Keywords: Ex-Offenders, EmploymentPrisoner ReentrySocial Networks, Ex-Offenders |