PROBATION REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM - AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH

• NCJ Number: 49901
• Journal: Federal Probation Volume: 41 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1977) Pages: 42-46
• Author(s): H R CELLINI; J GIANNINI; D L WRIGHT; D COUGHLIN
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: Administrative Office of the United States Courts
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A PILOT PROGRAM TO FIND JOBS FOR EX-OFFENDERS AND TO MOTIVATE THEM TO KEEP THESE JOBS IS DESCRIBED. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON INCREASING SELF-PRIDE AND PROVIDING CONTINUOUS JOB COACHING SUPPORT SERVICES.

Abstract

THE PROBATION REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM (PREP), ONE OF SEVERAL PROGRAMS SPONSORED BY THE SAFER FOUNDATION, (CHICAGO, ILL.) TO MOTIVATE EX-OFFENDERS AND FIND THEM JOBS, BEGAN IN OCTOBER 1975. PREP EMPHASIZES MOTIVATING THE PROBATIONER TO REVISE HIS LIFE-STYLE SO HE OR SHE DOES NOT AGAIN BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE 2-WEEK NONRESIDENTIAL PROGRAM FOCUSES ON SELF-IMAGE AND JOB-HOLDING SKILLS. THE PHILOSOPHY IS THAT A PERSON'S FEELING OF SELF-WORTH DETERMINES JOB SUCCESS. UNLESS ONE FEELS ONE CAN HOLD A JOB, SUCCESS IS UNLIKELY. A THOROUGH SCREENING PROGRAM ASSESSES JOB SKILLS, EDUCATION, LEGAL HISTORY, AND MEDICAL HISTORY. REFERRALS FOR THE PROGRAM COME FROM THE COOK COUNTY, ILL., PROBATION DEPARTMENT. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN SET FOR THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING A BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF ENGLISH AND MINUMUM LITERACY. A CONTRACT IS SIGNED WITH THE PROBATIONER WHICH STIPULATES ARRIVAL AT THE PROGRAM ON TIME, FOLLOWING RULES OF COURTESY, AND COMPLETING ASSIGNMENTS. A COPY OF THE RULES ARE INCLUDED. A BRIEF DESCRIPTION IS GIVEN OF THE ROLE-PLAYING, THE ADJUSTMENT TECHNIQUES, AND OTHER METHODS USED DURING THE TRAINING PERIOD. PROBATIONERS RECEIVE A STIPEND OF $9.38 EACH DAY TO COVER LUNCH AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM PREP ACTIVELY HELPS THE PROBATIONER FIND A JOB AND A PREP COUNSELOR KEEPS IN CLOSE CONTACT TO HELP SOLVE JOB PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS. A SUMMARY OF PROGRAM STATISTICS SHOWS THAT 976 PROBATIONERS WERE REFERRED TO THE PROGRAM BETWEEN APRIL 30, 1976 AND APRIL 30, 1977. OF THESE 60 PERCENT WERE SUCCESSFULLY PLACED, COMPARED TO 40 PERCENT SUCCESSFUL PLACEMENT FOR THE SAFER PROGRAM AS A WHOLE. THE COST PER PLACEMENT WAS $537.42. OF THE PLACEMENTS, 54 PERCENT WERE STILL WORKING AT THE END OF 30 DAYS AND 37 PERCENT AT THE END OF 90 DAYS. THIS IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE RATE FOR PROBATIONERS AS A WHOLE AND FOR THE SAFER PROGRAM AS A WHOLE.