Windham School District Evaluation Report: Legislative Budget Board January 2007

• NCJ Number: 237950
• Author(s): Randy Hunter
• Date Published: January 2007
• Length: 27 pages
• Corporate Author: Texas Legislative Budget Board
• Sale Source: Texas Legislative Budget Board
• Publication Format: Document; Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Report (Annual/Periodic); Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This evaluation of training services provided by the Texas Windham School District (WSD) to offenders housed in Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) facilities focuses on the type of training services provided, the type of employment obtained upon release, whether employment was related to training received, the difference between earnings on the date employment is obtained and on the first anniversary of that date, and employment retention factors.

Abstract

Of the offenders included in the study, 4,747 were classified in the vocational group, and 28,188 were in the non-vocational group. Approximately 68 percent of the vocational group was employed within 1 year of release compared to 58 percent of the non-vocational group. Of the vocationally trained offenders who were employed within 1 year of release (3,208 offenders), 66 percent were employed in an occupation related to their vocational training. Although 68 percent of the vocational group were employed within 1 year of release, only 53 percent were employed on the first anniversary of their initial employment. Approximately 46 percent of the non-vocational group were employed on the first anniversary of their initial employment. Approximately 41 percent of the employed vocational group received an earnings increase during the year, compared to 34 percent of the employed non-vocational group that also received an earnings increase. The average salary difference from first to fourth quarter was $3,031 for the vocational group and $2,759 for the non-vocational group. Among all age and educational-level categories, the vocational group had a higher employment retention rate. Approximately 17 percent of the employed vocational group obtained industry certification. Of those who obtained certification, 62 percent retained employment for three consecutive quarters. As part of its educational and vocational services, the WSD provides vocational training in 34 trades to offenders housed in TDCJ facilities. 8 figures and appended vocational employment and training by industry