NCJ Number
58819
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1979) Pages: 133-143
Date Published
1979
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THE COMPLEX OFFENDER PROJECT (COP) WAS DESIGNED TO EDUCATE EX-OFFENDERS WITH MULTIPLE EMPLOYMENT HANDICAPS ON HOW TO SEARCH FOR AND SECURE DESIREABLE COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT.
Abstract
AS PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT PROGRAM, COP SERVICES INCLUDE COUNSELING, INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS TRAINING, CRISIS INTERVENTION, SOCIAL SKILLS TRAINING, RECREATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING, WAKE-UP SERVICE, JOB-SEEKING SKILLS TRAINING, AND REFERRAL TO AND COORDINATION OF OTHER AGENCIES. PROGRAMMING IS TAILORED TO EACH CLIENT NEEDS. COP CLIENTS ARE TAKEN THROUGH SIMULATED JOB INTERVIEWS, GIVEN FEEDBACK ON THEIR PERFORMANCE AND SHOWN SLIDES AND FILMS ON WHERE TO FIND JOBS, HOW TO WRITE RESUMES, HOW TO FILL OUT APPLICATIONS, AND HOW TO TAKE PART IN AN INTERVIEW. TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COP, RESEARCHERS GATHERED DATA ON 119 CLIENTS 4 MONTHS PRIOR TO THEIR REFERRAL AND FOR 28 MONTHS AFTER REFERRAL. ANALYSIS OF THE DATA REVEALS THAT THE TYPICAL COMPLEX OFFENDER IS A 21-YEAR-OLD WHITE MALE, OFTEN A HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT, WHO HAS BEEN COMPETITIVELY EMPLOYED WITHIN 2 YEARS OF REFERRAL. THE COMBINATION OF JOB-SEEKING SKILLS AND PERSONALIZED JOB SERVICES HAS IMMEDIATE EFFECTS ON JOB PLACEMENT. THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF JOBS HELD INCREASED TO 1.5 JOBS PER CLIENT DURING THE FIRST 4 MONTHS, AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME UNEMPLOYED DECREASED MORE THAN 20 PERCENT. THIS DRAMATIC EFFECT DISSIPATED OVER TIME, HOWEVER, AND THE PERCENTAGE OF CLIENTS HOLDING MORE THAN TWO JOBS WITHIN THE STUDY PERIOD SUGGESTS THAT ABSENTEEISM AND OTHER ON-THE-JOB PROBLEMS RESULTED IN HIGH JOB TURNOVER. THE RESULTS CLEARLY INDICATES THAT OFFENDERS WITH MULTIPLE EMPLOYMENT HANDICAPS CAN BE ASSISTED IN PROGRAMS LIKE COP, BUT THAT SUCH PROGRAMS SHOULD ALSO HELP CLIENTS TO LEARN SOCIAL AND OTHER SKILLS NECESSARY TO HOLD JOBS. REFERENCES AND STUDY DATA ARE INCLUDED. (DAG)