NCJ Number
215427
Journal
Criminal Justice Policy Review Volume: 17 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2006 Pages: 302-313
Date Published
September 2006
Length
12 pages
Annotation
After describing the components and evaluation design for the project entitled "Early Intervention" (EI), which is being designed by the Federal Social Security Administration (SSA) and Rutgers University, this article discusses how the program could help eligible mentally ill offenders obtain employment after their release from prison.
Abstract
EI targets many of the programmatic barriers to employment inherent in Social Security Disability Insurance (DI), which is a Federal program that provides monthly cash benefits and access to health care insurance for work-disabled adults and their dependents. EI's key philosophy is to provide return-to-work services and supports at the earliest point possible. A method for selecting good return-to-work candidates has been created so that the SSA resources can focus on individuals likely to be interested in and capable of returning to work. Under EI, individuals who pass the threshold for the first screen will be referred to a return-to-work specialist at a Department of Labor one-stop career services center, who will describe EI. Those who choose to participate in EI will receive temporary cash stipends for 1 year equal to what their DI benefit would have been and immediate access to Medicare for 3 years. EI's evaluation will include a sample large enough to measure accurately any program effects. The key question of the evaluation is whether the provision of early return-to-work services and support will increase return-to-work rates. Although EI was not specifically designed for mentally ill offenders returning to the community from prison, it could provide transitional income, health care, and employment services to offenders who would have accessed the Federal DI program. 38 references