NCJ Number
75912
Journal
Howard Journal of Penology and Crime Prevention Volume: 20 Issue: 1 Dated: (1981) Pages: 29-36
Date Published
1981
Length
8 pages
Annotation
The reconviction rates of 63 British ex-offenders over a 10-year period were examined to determine the effect of having jobs arranged within a few days after their release.
Abstract
The APEX Trust, a specialist employment service for ex-offenders, interviewed men in prison and arranged their immediate placement into jobs after release from prison to determine whether this method would reduce reconviction rates. Results showed that starting work immediately after release from prison has little effect on further criminal activity. One-third were reconvicted during the first year, a further one-third were before the courts in the subsequent 9 years, while there was no evidence of any court appearances for the remaining one-third. The first year after release produced the highest rate of reconviction, but the subsequent years up to the eighth year produced a steady reconviction rate of about 10 percent each year. The relationship between the length of time in the job and subsequent reconviction was indicated by the 80 percent reconviction rate for the 44 men who left their jobs within 3 months. However, as many as one-third delayed their reconviction to the latter 5 years of the 10-year followup period. Of the 9 men who were still working at the APEX-sponsored job after 1 year, none was reconvicted during the 10-year followup period. Measured in terms of frequency and seriousness of reconviction, 35 men had neither serious nor frequent reconvictions. It was concluded that immediate reemployment does not affect reconviction rates, but that finding work commensurate with the offender's skills should be emphasized. Three successful placements are described, and tables and three references are provided.