NCJ Number
223216
Date Published
2007
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This chapter examines the relationship between employment and offending and the extent to which employment assistance can contribute to reintegration and reduced offending.
Abstract
The Correctional Service Employment Pilot Program (CSEPP) in Victoria Australia provided a forum that confronted the challenges of finding work. It offered life skills preparation, placement in employment and skills in retaining employment, as well as assistance with broader issues associated with reducing, reoffending and reintegration into the community. The program started in June 2002 and ended in June 2006. The women were able to access these services over a longer period of time; it provided the opportunity to build on employment success and look at long-term employment sustainability. Programs similar to CSEPP are being introduced in other countries, given the success of the program. The CSEPP pilot program gained extensive experience in responding to the employment needs of female prisoners. It was clear that employment is a necessary element for the successful reintegration of women into the community, and that a program such as CSEPP improved their self-esteem and long-term employment prospects. This chapter looks at the importance of employment in the successful reintegration of women offenders into the community and discusses the findings from the CSEPP, funded by Corrections Victoria, as well as the program’s strengths and limitations. Table, references