NCJ Number
96940
Date Published
1981
Length
55 pages
Annotation
This evaluation of Massachusetts' Comprehensive Offender Resource System (COERS) program, created to coordinate employment and training services for ex-offenders, found COERS' placement rate to be superior to that of similar employment programs in other jurisdictions.
Abstract
The evaluation analyzed demographic data, prior job histories, and 6 months of followup information on 749 individuals who entered the COERS network between January 1 and March 31, 1980. COERS operated Employment Resource Centers (ERC) in Boston, Springfield, and Worcester which provided various services including outreach, intake and assessment, preemployment training, job development, and job placement. Each maintained some type of financial assistance program for clients. The typical COERS client was male, less than 25 years old with no more than a 12th grade education, unmarried, and solely responsible for his income, and had a yearly income of under $1,000. Almost half were on probation at time of intake. Most negative terminations occurred immediately after intake, and this rate decreased as clients progressed through the program. Of all clients who entered COERS during the sampling period, nearly 38 percent were successfully terminated as a direct result of a COERS placements. If clients were added who went into other programs or found jobs themselves, the success rate would be 51.5 percent. A National Institute of Justice survey revealed that the placement rate for a typical employment service program was 35 percent. Charts, tables, and endnotes are supplied.