NCJ Number
66868
Date Published
1980
Length
56 pages
Annotation
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE (NIJ) HAS DESIGNED A SET OF PROGRAM COMPONENTS FOR ASSISTING NEW RELEASEES FROM PRISONS AND JAILS IN OBTAINING AND RETAINING EMPLOYMENT.
Abstract
THE DESIGN CONSISTS OF ORGANIZATIONAL AND PROGRAM ELEMENTS THAT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED AND EVALUATED UNIFORMLY IN SITES SELECTED BY NIJ. THE PROGRAM HAS THREE PRIMARY GOALS: TO FACILITATE LABOR MARKET ENTRY FOR RELEASEES BY MEANS OF COMPREHENSIVE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, TO INCREASE THE CUMULATIVE DURATION OF EMPLOYMENT FOR RELEASEES, AND TO REDUCE THE RATE AND SEVERITY OF RECIDIVISM FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AS COMPARED TO CONTROL GROUPS NOT RECEIVING PROGRAM SERVICES. THE TEST PROGRAM WILL BE FACILITATED BY A SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM CHARACTERIZED BY ITS COMMUNITY-BASED NATURE, COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH, RAPID ACCESS, NETWORK OF AGENCIES, AND COOPERATION WITH CORRECTIONS AND PAROLE/PROBATION DEPARTMENTS. THE BASIC PROGRAM STRUCTURE INCLUDES COMPREHENSIVE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, OPERATION BY AN EXPERIENCED EX-OFFENDER EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY, AND LINKAGE WITH THE EXISTING NETWORK OF SOCIAL SERVICE AND CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES. ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAM IS LIMITED TO INMATES WHO MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: (1) THEY MUST BE SENTENCED MALE OR FEMALE INMATES FROM ADULT FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES WHO ARE WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF RELEASE AND WHO HAVE SERVED AT LEAST 3 MONTHS IN THE INSTITUTION; (2) THEY MUST HAVE EXHIBITED A PATTERN OF INCOME-PRODUCING OFFENSES; AND (3) THEY MUST DESIRE ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT UPON RELEASE. THE ANALYTIC FRAMEWORK FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ASSES BOTH THE SHORT TERM IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM ELEMENTS ON THE CLIENTS' REENTRY INTO THE JOB MARKET DURING THE FIRST MONTHS AFTER RELEASE, AND THE LONG TERM IMPACT OF PROGRAM SERVICES ON THE CLIENTS' CUMULATIVE EMPLOYMENT, GENERAL QUALITY OF LIFE, AND RECIDIVISM RATES. SITES SELECTED FOR EVALUATING THE PROGRAM DESIGN MUST HAVE 250 TO 300 ELIGIBLE RELEASEES, AS WELL AS AN EQUIVALENT NUMBER TO BE USED AS A CONTROL GROUP. THE REPORT INCLUDES DIAGRAMS, FOOTNOTES, A LIST OF SOURCE MATERIAL, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY.