NCJ Number
62671
Date Published
1978
Length
116 pages
Annotation
A MODEL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TO PUT WOMEN OFFENDERS INTO NONTRADITIONAL EMPLOYMENT IS DISCUSSED WITH REFERENCE TO PROGRAM GOALS, PARTICIPANT PROFILES, PROGRAM RESULTS, AND MAJOR IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICYMAKERS.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED BY THE WASHINGTON-BASED WIDER OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN (WOW) TO (1) GIVE WOMEN ACCESS TO NONTRADITIONAL JOBS, (2) SERVE AS A MODEL PROGRAM WITH LESSONS THAT WOULD AFFECT AREAS OF NATIONAL POLICY SUCH AS GUIDELINE SETTING AND WELFARE REFORM, AND (3) BUILD WOW'S EXPERIENCE AND HELP OTHER WOMEN'S GROUPS. A TOTAL OF 96 BLACK WOMEN AND 1 WHITE WOMAN ENTERED THE PROGRAM. MEAN AGE WAS 25.6, MEAN GRADE ATTAINMENT 10.48, 65 PERCENT WERE SINGLE, AND 66 PERCENT CONSIDERED THEMSELVES HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS. INCOME RANGED FROM ZERO TO BETWEEN $800-849 PER MONTH, AND ALL OF THE WOMEN ENROLLED HAD COMMITTED AT LEAST ONE OFFENSE, EITHER CRIMINAL OR CIVIL, UPON ENTERING THE PROGRAM. STANDARDS INCLUDED TERMINATION, OR PLACEMENT AND RETENTION IN JOB LENGTH OF PARTICIPATION AND APPLICATION OF TERMINATION STATUS, FOLLOWUP, JOB AND TRAINING STANDARDS FOR THOSE PLACED, VALIDITY OF REFUSAL-TO-PARTICIPATE STATUS AND REFERRAL STANDARDS. WOW INCREASED FEMALE REPRESENTATION IN NONTRADITIONAL JOBS (90 PERCENT OF THE PLACEMENTS WERE NONTRADITIONAL) AND IMPROVED WAGES BY $1 TO $5 AN HOUR. FUTURE PROGRAMS WILL REQUIRE INCREASED COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND INDUSTRY COOPERATION, ADHERENCE TO ESTABLISHED STANDARDS, AND CAREFUL SCREENING, AND SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WOMEN'S VARIED NEEDS AND PERSONALITY PATTERNS. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (AOP)