Brief Outline of Some International Employment and Training Programs/Ideas for Offenders and Ex-Offenders

• NCJ Number: 133725
• Author(s): P Henson
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 16 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program Description (Demonstrative)
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

The findings of a 5-week international tour of offender employment and training programs in the United States, England, and Europe are examined from the perspective of implementation of such programs in Western Australia.

Abstract

The main ideas, programs, and principles were identified for 18 programs in the United States, particularly Washington DC, New York, and California; 3 in France; 6 in West Germany; 4 in The Netherlands; and 11 in England. Some of the innovative ideas were based on industry development in prisons and covered training in prison and prerelease services, prison and probation officer training packages, post release services programs which included housing, school and drug treatment programs, correction programs, and enterprises. One of the key principles identified was to sell skills through the provision of services rather than ask the government for a handout to address the needs of ex-offenders. This was exemplified by the mentor scheme in England; Cares program in Los Angeles; community services, speakers program, job search, and employer's advisory committees in the United Kingdom; and neighborhood work project, fidelity bonding, offender employment forums in other countries. Other ideas included enterprise development in the United States where companies give a percent of contract work to community based organizations and funding for employment and training programs in the District of Columbia.