NCJ Number
191883
Journal
Corrections Management Quarterly Volume: 5 Issue: 4 Dated: Fall 2001 Pages: 53-63
Date Published
2001
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study reassesses the link between employment and crime.
Abstract
The study examines preimprisonment employment data from a sample of male and female Federal prison camp inmates. Most were gainfully employed in good-paying legal jobs when they were arrested. They had positive ties to communities, churches, schools, and family. Their overall educational and occupational attainments would be acceptable outcomes from a prison- or community-based economic rehabilitation program. The article offers suggestions as to why these seemingly competent and qualified persons turned to crime. The article suggests that prisons are the wrong place for economic rehabilitation programs. Prison isolates. Successful employment requires ever-expanding economic networks. More prison-based vocational training programs are needed, but these alone will likely fall short of ensuring that former inmates find and maintain gainful, legitimate employment. The article observes that crime begins in the community. If society continues to use prisons for the purpose of punishment, the failure of rehabilitation and its social and economic costs to community life will also continue. Correctional agencies must begin to reach out to community agencies to provide follow-up support to former inmates. Tables, references