SUGGESTED POLICY INITIATIVES FOR EMPLOYMENT AND CRIME PROBLEMS (FROM CRIME AND EMPLOYMENT ISSUES - A COLLECTION OF POLICY RELEVANT MONOGRAPHS, 1978, BY LEON LEIBERG - SEE NCJ-47674)

• NCJ Number: 47676
• Author(s): R A TROPP
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 34 pages
• Corporate Author: American University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

TENTATIVE CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UNEMPLOYMENT AND CRIME ARE DRAWN FROM AVAILABLE DATA, RESEARCH NEEDS ARE IDENTIFIED, AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OFFERED.

Abstract

HAVING NOTED THAT DATA ON CRIME AND UNEMPLOYMENT ARE CONFLICTING AND, IN GENERAL, METHODOLOGICALLY INADEQUATE, THE DISCUSSION ADDRESSES QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE EXISTENCE AND NATURE OF A CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UNEMPLOYMENT AND CRIME, THE COMPONENTS OF THE PHENOMENON LABELED UNEMPLOYMENT OF OFFENDERS, THE DATA NEEDED TO FIND REMEDIES FOR EACH COMPONENT, AND THE RANGE OF REMEDIES THAT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED WITHOUT PROTRACTED RESEARCH. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT EVIDENCE DOES NOT SUPPORT THE EXISTENCE OF A STRONG CORRELATION BETWEEN UNEMPLOYMENT AND PROPERTY CRIME OR VIOLENT CRIME BY JUVENILES OR ADULTS, THAT FEW OF THE PROBLEMS FROM WHICH OFFENDER UNEMPLOYMENT ARISES ARE UNIQUE TO OFFENDERS, AND THAT POLICY-RELATED RESEARCH AND EVALUATION NEEDS RELATIVE TO UNEMPLOYMENT AND CRIME ARE GREAT. SPECIFIC RESEARCH FINDINGS ON CRIME AND UNEMPLOYMENT ARE CITED, OFFENDER UNEMPLOYMENT FACTORS ARE IDENTIFIED, AND RESEARCH TOPICS ARE SUGGESTED. THE FOLLOWING INITIATIVES HAVE POTENTIAL FOR INFLUENCING OFFENDER EMPLOYMENT AND, POSSIBLY, CRIME: AMENDING STATUTES THAT PROHIBIT OR RESTRICT EMPLOYMENT OF OFFENDERS; IMPROVING PRISON INDUSTRY PROGRAMS; EXPANDING USE OF FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE EXEMPTIONS TO FACILITATE REINTEGRATION OF OFFENDERS INTO THE LABOR MARKET; CREATING 'FRIENDSHIP NETWORKS' TO HELP OFFENDERS MAKE JOB CONTACTS; SUBSIDIZING MAINTENANCE OF FAMILY CONTACTS DURING IMPRISONMENT; EXPANDING APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS; EMPHASIZING PLACEMENT AND PROVISION OF LABOR MARKET INFORMATION BY SCHOOLS AND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS; EXPANDING FEDERAL HIGHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE TO ENCOMPASS ON-THE-JOB TRAINING; INCREASING THE AVAILABILITY OF JOBS FOR TEENAGERS AND MINORITIES; FINANCING RELOCATION; USING SENTENCING OPTIONS INVOLVING EMPLOYMENT; USING THE MILITARY TO FACILITATE JOB MARKET ENTRY; REALLOCATING CORRECTIONAL TRAINING AND PLACEMENT FUNDS; AND LINKING TRAINING WITH PLACEMENT. (LKM)