NCJ Number
81043
Date Published
1981
Length
38 pages
Annotation
This report presents findings of a study of the Employment Pool Project initiated by the Ottawa Probation and Parole Office (Canada) in July 1974. The project emphasized short-term assessment, counseling, and referrals of probationers to job possibilities.
Abstract
An adjunct to the regular services was vocationally relevant skills training, a structured group exercise designed to accommodate six to eight clients in four 2-hour sessions over a 1-week period. Staffing consisted of citizen volunteers under the direction of one professional probation/parole officer. The study compared 3 groups of probationers: (1) 26 unemployed probationers who recieved regular probation supervision but were not referred to the employment pool, (2) 79 unemployed probationers who received pool services (assessment, counseling, and referrals), and (3) 21 unemployed probationers who received pool services in combination with social skill training. Improved vocational status was found to be associated with increased anticriminal sentiments, increased sensitivity to conventional rules, and decreased perception of limited opportunity. No evidence showed that the employment pool services without social skills training was any more effective than regular probation supervision. Participation in social skills training was associated with an improved situation at the sixth month, most notably among probationers under 19 years old. An improved vocational status was related to an assessment of successful outcome by probation officers. Study findings suggest two conditions under which employment services might be expected to be effective: (1) employment programs which contain a job-search skills component and (2) the target population for employment-oriented services being the youngest, most problematic offenders. Tables and 11 references are supplied. (Author summary modified)