NCJ Number
59077
Date Published
1974
Length
0 pages
Annotation
TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT FOR ADDICTS AND EX-OFFENDERS, THE WILDCAT SERVICE CORPORATION, SET UP IN 1972, IS EXAMINED IN THIS FILM DEPICTING THE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES PROVIDED FOR WILDCAT EMPLOYEES.
Abstract
ABOUT 1,500 FORMER ADDICTS AND OFFENDERS WORK ON WILDCAT CONTRACTS, AND PLANS ARE UNDERWAY TO INCREASE THAT NUMBER TO ABOUT 2,500. SUPPORTED WORK IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO WELFARE IN THAT IT PROVIDES SOCIALLY USEFUL EMPLOYMENT AND MAKES STRONG DEMANDS ON THE WORKERS. HABITUAL TARDINESS, ABSENTEEISM, AND POOR PERFORMANCE ARE GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL OF WILDCAT EMPLOYEES. AS THE FILM SHOWS, WILDCAT IS INVOLVED IN SUCH ACTIVITIES AS PAINTING FIREHOUSES AND HYDRANTS, PEST CONTROL AND TRASH REMOVAL, BUILDING MAINTENANCE, AND RESEARCH AND CLERICAL WORK. WILDCATTERS HELP KEEP LIBRARIES OPEN NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS, RENOVATE ABANDONED BUILDINGS, PREPARE MAPS AND CHARTS FOR NEW YORK'S PLANNING COMMISSION, WORK IN POLICE STATIONS, AND RECYCLE PAPER. PARTICIPANTS ARE SHOWN INTERVIEWING FOR JOBS WITH WILDCAT AND ONCE ACCEPTED, WORKING WITH AN ASSIGNED CREW OF FOUR OR FIVE MEMBERS TO PERFORM A SPECIFIC TASK. EACH WORKER IS TRAINED ON THE JOB AND RECEIVES ADDITIONAL COUNSELING TO DEAL WITH OFF-THE-JOB PROBLEMS. EACH PARTICIPANT RECEIVES A WEEKLY PAYCHECK OF $95 WITH INCREASES AT REGULAR INTERVALS. AFTER 2 YEARS OF THE WILDCAT EXPERIMENT, 69 PERCENT OF THOSE EMPLOYED STILL WORK THERE OR HAVE GONE TO OTHER JOBS, AND THE RECIDIVISM RATE IS ONLY 27 PERCENT, LESS THAN ONE-HALF OF THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR ADDICTS AND OFFENDERS. CITY OFFICIALS AND SUPERVISORS AT A CHEMICAL BANK, A NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, AND A MICROFILM PROJECT ALL ATTEST TO THE RELIABILITY OF THEIR WILDCAT EMPLYEES. CONVERSATIONS AMONG WORKERS INDICATE THE DIMENSIONS OF THEIR DIFFICULTIES IN FINDING WORK WITH PRIVATE EMPLOYERS WHO STILL REMAIN RELUCTANT TO HIRE EX-OFFENDERS AND ADDICTS. DUE TO THE SUCCESS OF WILDCAT, OTHER PROGRAMS ARE BEING PLANNED, AND WILDCAT PLANS TO HIRE YOUNGER WORKERS, SINCE THE AVERAGE AGE OF ITS EMPLOYEES IS 30 YEARS. (WJR)