NCJ Number
89274
Journal
Corrective and Social Psychiatry and Journal of Behavior Technology Methods and Therapy Volume: 29 Issue: 1 Dated: (1983) Pages: 1-11
Date Published
1983
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Job placement for inmates appears to affect their employment success only if it is related to vocational training previously received.
Abstract
Thus, correctional programs should place greater emphasis on job development and placement of trainees in jobs for which they were trained. In addition, psychometric tests should be used more extensively in the selection of trainees. Inmates should receive individual programs consisting of one or more of the following: training, counseling, basic education, group work, and family assistance. The prison must address the full spectrum of individual problems if the inmate is to receive maximum benefit from training. Data from 101 pairs of inmates from an Arizona correctional facility showed that those inmates who had received skill training did not differ significantly from those who had not received training when compared on employment success and recidivism. Only 40 percent of the trainees found jobs related to their area of training. Whites averaged the most months worked in the year following release, followed by Native Americans, Mexican-Americans, and blacks, in that order. The employees whose jobs were related to their training had moderately higher success scores than the others. Recidivism was lower for males, married persons, whites, and older inmates. Those with lower IQ's and more emotional disturbances were more likely to recidivate and less likely to succeed at employment. Further research is recommended. Eighteen references are listed.