NCJ Number
242713
Journal
Journal of Correctional Education Volume: 64 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2013 Pages: 50-68
Date Published
January 2013
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study examined the characteristics of marginally employed ex-offenders.
Abstract
Findings from this study on the characteristics of marginally employed (earnings less than $5,000 per year) ex-offenders include the following: the number of employed offenders varied from 47.7 percent of recently released offenders in 2006 to 49.8 percent of recently released offenders in 2009; the employment rate for released offenders decreased from 40.1 percent in 2006 to 25 percent in 2009; between 2006 and 2009, the majority of employed offenders had an annual income of less than $10,000; 62.4 percent of marginally employed offenders were African-American, almost 36 percent were White, and 1 percent were Hispanic; and a majority of the marginally employed offenders were male (84.1 percent) and under the age of 30 (46.3 percent). Additional findings are presented on the skill and educational levels of employed offenders, and the recidivism rates of unemployed offenders. These findings suggest that inadequate education is a primary barrier to postrelease employment and successful reentry among recently released offenders. The study suggests that correctional education and training programs are essential to incarcerated offenders having a successful reentry upon release. Data for the study were obtained from analysis of 6,561 offenders released from Indiana correctional facilities throughout 2005. This cohort of ex-offenders was then examined in a 5-year follow-up study to determine the rate of employment and recidivism among the group. The primary focus of the study was to explore the characteristics of marginally employed ex-offenders. Tables, figure, and references