NCJ Number
184134
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 64 Issue: 1 Dated: June 2000 Pages: 13-18
Date Published
2000
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Mock job fairs are the inmate employment program that has experienced the most impressive growth in Federal correctional institutions since the Federal Bureau of Prisons established the Inmate Placement Program Branch in October 1996 to focus more attention on post-release employment.
Abstract
The mock job fairs help Federal prisoners to strengthen their job search skills. The fairs follow a model developed in Texas and invite company recruiters into Federal prisons to provide inmate participants with realistic job interview experiences, followed by immediate one-on-one evaluations of their performance. Each participating inmate must enroll in job fair preparation classes ranging from 14 to 45 hours of instruction on how to prepare job applications, the importance of good grooming and proper posture, and other topics. Forty-seven Federal prisons had held 70 mock job fairs by December 8, 1999 and had involved more than 3,000 Federal prisoners and approximately 1,000 company representatives. Unexpected results of these fairs have included their positive impacts on the cooperating company recruiters, as well as favorable responses from community representatives and inmates. The consistent growth of the fairs and other inmate employment efforts reflects a welcoming acceptance by participants. Other efforts include the training of offender employment placement specialists, interagency collaboration and information clearinghouse services, and plans for evaluating the programs’ effects on recidivism. 15 references