NCJ Number
237953
Date Published
January 2010
Length
86 pages
Annotation
This fourth report in a series of evaluations of the Texas Windham School District (WSD) for offenders housed in the facilities of the Texas corrections system addresses the type of training services provided, the type of employment obtained upon release, whether employment was related to the training received, the difference between earnings on the date employment was obtained and on the first anniversary of that date, and employment retention factors.
Abstract
Within 1 year of release, those who completed a vocational training program ("vocational completers") were more often employed than their respective non-vocational groups. Offenders who received intensive treatment and participated in the college vocational completion group experienced the highest employment rate (70.2 percent) within 1 year of release. The non-vocational group had the lowest employment rate (46.8 percent) within 1 year of release. Of the vocational completers employed within 1 year of release, approximately 77.6 percent were employed in an occupation related to their training. Vocational completers in the non-college training were more often employed in occupations related to their training than were the college-trained participants. The college vocational completers had the highest employment rate (61.9 percent) at the first anniversary of their initial employment. Vocational non-completers had the lowest employment rate (46.9 percent) at the first anniversary of their initial employment. All employed offenders included in the study earned, on average, approximately $9,128 during the year. All vocational completers had higher average annual earnings than their respective non-vocational groups. College vocational completers not only had the largest share of earners with a rising income, but they also had the largest average increase in earnings. Those in the college vocational non-completion group had the smallest average increase in earnings. Regarding employment retention factors, college vocational completers across all age groups and educational levels were more likely to retain their jobs for 3 years after release than for non-vocational groups. 15 figures and appended full report of the evaluation of Training Services Career & Technical Education (WSD non-college vocational training program)