Impact of Employment Programs on Offenders, Addicts, and Problem Youth - Implications From Supported Work

• NCJ Number: 90135
• Author(s): I Piliavin; S Masters
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 39 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Corporate Author: University of Wisconsin, Madison
• Sale Source: Eric Document Reproduction Service
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Report Number DP 665-81

Annotation

For several years, the Federal government of the United States has supported programs that employ and teach skills to disadvantaged workers, especially disadvantaged youth. By concentrating on serving youth, such programs have neglected disadvantaged adults, for whom such programs may often be more effective.

Abstract

This assertion is based on an experimental evaluation of a major subsidized work experience program called Supported Work, which was directed at groups selected partly because of their potential for committing crime. The groups in the demonstration sample for program evaluation included previously incarcerated offenders, known drug addicts, and youths known to be or considered likely to become delinquent. Evaluation showed that the program had little effect on young delinquents' post-program employment or on their criminal activity during or after participation in the program. However, among adult offenders and drug addicts, there was a tendency toward increased employment and reduced crime. The results of this experiment thus suggest that older disadvantaged workers, including those who are known offenders, may be much more responsive to the opportunity to participate in employment programs than those who are younger. It may be worthwhile to provide this opportunity more fully. (Resources in Education (ERIC) abstract)