NCJ Number
111865
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 49 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1985) Pages: 17-20
Date Published
1985
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article presents a study evaluating a job training program for Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA)-qualified probationers.
Abstract
This program was conceived in 1975 to assist probationers in improving their employment prospects. The primary focus was to encourage participants to learn the value of work and to develop responsible work habits. The main purpose was to serve as a secondary employer and provide opportunities to demonstrate work history. 'CETA-qualified' means that the probationers were 18 to 25 years old and their families were in the lower income range necessary for government assistance. Using questionnaires and probation files, the study compared a random sample of probationers who were released back to the community but did not participate in the training program for the years 1979, 1980, and 1981. Results showed that differences between groups, at both 6- and 12-month intervals, varied little after adjusting for 'risk classification.' The conclusion is that the training program had no significant impact on its participants in terms of probation outcome criteria as defined in this study. The average length of stay in the training program was approximately 3 months. More program subjects left for negative reasons than positive ones. According to probation files, 84 percent of the program study participants were employed when given probation. Yet, after later enrolling in the training program, only 26 percent were described as 'employed' when they left the program. The important issue may well be the characteristics of probationers rather than specific program designs. 1 reference.