NCJ Number
63234
Date Published
1979
Length
27 pages
Annotation
THIS EVALUATION REPORT DESCRIBES THE NEW ORLEANS' CRIMINAL SHERIFF'S PROGRAM THAT INSTRUCTS INMATES IN COMMERCIAL COOKING AND BAKING SKILLS, PREPARING THEM FOR POST-PRISON EMPLOYMENT.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM WAS FUNDED BY LEAA AND COVERED THE SALARIES OF A COORDINATOR, COOKING INSTRUCTOR, AND A BAKING INSTRUCTOR. BECAUSE OF THE BRIEF PERIOD OF PROGRAM FUNDING, THIS EVALUATION COVERS ONLY THE PERIOD MARCH 1979 TO MID-AUGUST 1979. STARTUP PROBLEMS HAMPERED THE ABILITY OF THE PROGRAM TO PLACE AND MAINTAIN 45 INMATES IN EACH RESPECTIVE PROGRAM OVER A 12-MONTH PERIOD AS SPECIFIED IN THE GRANT APPLICATION. INSTEAD, OVER A 6-MONTH PERIOD, 31 INMATES WERE PLACED IN BAKING CLASSES AND 11 WERE PLACED IN COOKING CLASSES FOR A PRORATED OVERALL GOAL ACHIEVEMENT IN TRAINING PLACEMENT OF 93.33 PERCENT. HOWEVER, ONLY 7 INMATES COMPLETED THE COURSE FOR A GOAL ACHIEVEMENT IN TRAINING MAINTENANCE OF ONLY 15.5 PERCENT. INADEQUATE SCREENING OF THE FIRST BAKING CLASS IN TERMS OF LENGTH OF REMAINING SENTENCE TIME MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PLACE MOST PARTICIPANTS IN JOBS. NINE PARTICIPANTS TERMINATED EARLY, WHILE 4 PARTICIPANTS WERE UNSENTENCED, APPEALING A SENTENCE, OR SENTENCED TO A LIFE TERM. OF THE REMAINING THREE, NONE WERE PLACED IN JOBS. IF THE PROGRAM CONTINUES AFTER GRANT FUNDING, SCREENING SHOULD BE FURTHER REFINED TO REFLECT WORK RELEASE AND RESTITUTION PROGRAM STANDARDS. PARTICIPANTS SHOULD BE CAREFULLY SCREENED SO ONLY THOSE WITH PLACEMENT POTENTIAL ARE ENROLLED AND A FULL-TIME PROGRAM COORDINATOR SHOULD BE EMPLOYED TO SUPERVISE INSTRUCTION AND BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SCREENING, COUNSELING, JOB DEVELOPMENT AND PLACEMENT, AND FOLLOWUP ON PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED, AND AN APPENDIX LISTS THE BAKING AND COOKING CURRICULUMS. (MJW)