Minnesota's Affordable Homes Program: Evaluating the Effects of a Prison Work Program on Recidivism, Employment and Cost Avoidance

• NCJ Number: 240906
• Journal: Criminal Justice Policy Review Volume: 23 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2012 Pages: 327-351
• Author(s): Miriam Northcutt Bohmert; Grant Duwe
• Date Published: September 2012
• Length: 25 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article discusses the Affordable Homes Program (AHP) is a prison work crew program managed by the Minnesota Department of Corrections (MNDOC).

Abstract

The Affordable Homes Program (AHP) is a prison work crew program managed by the Minnesota Department of Corrections (MNDOC). To examine whether AHP has increased postrelease employment, lowered recidivism, and reduced costs to the State of Minnesota, this study uses a retrospective, quasi-experimental design in which propensity score matching was used to control for observable selection bias. The results show that during the 1998-2008 period, AHP (a) built 285 affordable homes, (b) significantly increased offenders' odds of obtaining postrelease employment in the construction field, and (c) produced U.S. $13.1 million in costs avoided. It did not, however, significantly reduce recidivism. Abstract published by arrangement with Sage Journals.