NCJ Number
64737
Journal
CRUCIBLE Dated: (JANUARY-MARCH 1979) Pages: 10-15
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE APEX TRUST IN ENGLAND PROVIDES A RANGE OF SERVICES TO HELP EX-OFFENDERS FIND JOBS AND THUS ALLEVIATE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS WHICH COULD CAUSE A RETURN TO CRIME.
Abstract
FOR MANY PRISONERS, A CUSTODIAL SENTENCE DOES NOT REHABILITATE, BUT WORSENS THE FINANCIAL AND DOMESTIC DIFFICULTIES WHICH LED TO THE OFFENSE. A MAJOR PROGRAM OFFERED BY APEX IS JOB PLACEMENT FOR WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINALS WHO ARE NOTABLY DIFFICULT TO PLACE SINCE THEIR OFFENSES WERE USUALLY COMMITTED IN THEIR PLACES OF WORK. THE TRUST ALSO OPERATES PRERELEASE PROGRAMS IN A FEW PRISONS TO PROVIDE INTERVIEW TRAINING AND CAREER COUNSELING. THE PRISON EXPERIENCE PRODUCES UNREALISTIC ATTITUDES AND ASPIRATIONS ABOUT EMPLOYMENT AND CAN LEAD TO FEELING OF WORTHLESSNESS. RUN BY VOLUNTEERS, THESE COURSES HAVE BEEN PRAISED BY PRISONERS, AND THE PROGRAM IS BEING EXPANDED IN ENGLAND AND WALES. STATISTICS ON THE HIGH RATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT FOR EX-OFFENDERS AND THE NEGATIVE ATTITUDE OF SOCIETY INDICATE THAT THE EX-OFFENDER IS SUBJECT TO MORE DISCRIMINATION THAT ANY OTHER MINORITY GROUP. APEX CONDUCTS REGULAR SEMINARS FOR EMPLOYERS TO DISPELL THE NOTION THAT AN EX-OFFENDER IS LIKELY TO COMMIT ANOTHER OFFENSE AGAINST AN EMPLOYER, CITING THE SUCCESSFUL RECORDS OF EX-OFFENDERS PLACED BY THE TRUST. IN COUNTRIES WHERE CORRECTIONAL DEPARTMENTS HAVE ESTABLISHED THEIR OWN JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES, RECONVICTION RATES HAVE FOLLOWED THE APEX EXPERIENCE AND DECREASED DRAMATICALLY. ENGLAND'S PRISON DEPARTMENT SHOULD IMPLEMENT RETRAINING, EMPLOYMENT PREPARATION, AND CAREER GUIDANCE PROGRAMS FOR PRISONERS WITHOUT DELAY. (MJM)