NCJ Number
64901
Date Published
1978
Length
12 pages
Annotation
WEST GERMAN MEASURES TO FIND SUITABLE EMPLOYMENT FOR EX-OFFENDERS ARE EXPLORED.
Abstract
THE SHIFT IN THE JOB MARKET AND GROWING UNEMPLOYMENT HAVE MADE IT ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT TO PLACE EX-OFFENDERS, SO THAT THEIR CHANCES OF SUCCESSFUL RESOCIALIZATION ARE DIMINISHED. THE 1976 CORRECTIONS LAW PROVIDES FOR MEASURES TO PREVENT UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT OF EX-OFFENDERS AND TO ASSURE PROFESSIONAL MOBILITY AND PLACEMENT OF INDIVIDUALS DIFFICULT TO EMPLOY UNDER PRESENT JOB MARKET CONDITIONS. PRISONS ARE REQUIRED TO FURNISH OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING AND OPPORTUNITIES COMPARABLE TO GENERAL (OUTSIDE) CONDITIONS, AND PRISON TRANSFERS AS WELL AS PERMISSION FOR OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT MUST BE GRANTED TO IMPROVE OFFENDERS' PROSPECTS OF PROFESSIONAL RESOCIALIZATION. THE FEDERAL LABOR OFFICE ASSISTS EX-OFFENDERS AND INMATES IN PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND IN PAYMENT OF EXPENSES FOR RETRAINING AND OF SPECIAL FEES TO EMPLOYERS FOR ON-THE-JOB TRAINING. COSTS TO EX-OFFENDER EMPLOYEES FOR JOB APPLICATIONS, TRAVEL RELATED TO FINDING WORK, DAILY COMMUTING, MOVING CLOSER TO WORK, EQUIPMENT FOR WORK, AND TRANSITIONS BETWEEN JOBS ARE TOTALLY OR PARTIALLY COMPENSATED. EMPLOYERS ARE REIMBURSED FOR TRIAL EMPLOYMENT PERIODS TO TEST EMPLOYEES' SUITABILITY OR TO IMPROVE EMPLOYEES' PROSPECTS OF FINDING WORK, AND FOR EFFORTS TO ADJUST DIFFICULT CANDIDATES TO THE JOB. SPECIAL OCCUPATIONAL COUNSELORS ADVISE BOTH INMATES AND CORRECTIONS OFFICERS. PENAL INSTITUTIONS MUST UPGRADE THEIR PROGRAMS SO THAT A BROAD SPECTRUM OF TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT IS AVAILABLE TO INMATES. UNTIL NOW, INSTITUTIONAL JOBS HAVE BEEN REPETITIVE AND UNSKILLED, TRAINING PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN INADEQUATE, AND PROFESSIONAL RESOCIALIZATION MEASURES HAVE BEEN INEFFECTIVE. A BROADER EDUCATIONAL BASE AND MODIFICATION OF SOCIAL AND PRISON EFFECTS ON PRISONER WORK ATTITUDES ARE RECOMMENDED. POTENTIALLY PROBLEMATIC AREAS ARE THE NEED FOR COORDINATION OF LABOR OFFICE RESOCIALIZATION EFFORTS WITH THOSE OF OTHER AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS, POSSIBLE ABUSERS (E.G., PREFERENCE FOR EASY-TO-PLACE CASES) IF PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES ARE USED INSTEAD OF LABOR OFFICE FACILITIES, AND THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE LABOR OFFICE SUPERVISE NUMEROUS VOLUNTEERS OR PRIVATE AGENCIES UNDER CONTRACT TO FIND EMPLOYMENT FOR EX-OFFENDERS. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)