NCJ Number
113676
Date Published
Unknown
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study reports on two Maryland programs for placing ex-offenders with skill-training and employment experience in private employment.
Abstract
The first program is a placement service carried out by State Use Industries (SUI), an organization authorized under Maryland statutes to use inmate labor for the manufacture of goods, services, and merchandise to be sold to the state and to public agencies or private charitable or educational organizations. The SUI program provides work experiences that replicate nonprison work environments as well as job training and apprenticeship programs. A placement service under the auspices of SUI is available to all former inmates employed by SUI. The study reports on followup assessments of 65 employees of SUI. Post-release employment was obtained by 58 of the 65 inmates. During the period of study, 75 percent worked at least half the time. The former inmates were employed in a variety of semi-skilled, service, and white-collar occupations. Their average pay was $5.95 per hour. The second program, Project Care (The Cooperative Assistance and Resources for Employment), provides job skills training and placement services to ex-offenders. During the report period 707 ex-offenders were referred to Project Care; 328 requested services from the organization and 177 were placed in jobs. Many of the Project Care clients were placed in lower skill occupations; some were placed in skilled or white-collar jobs. Average pay was $4.39 per hour. Because of a relatively strong labor market, there were more self-placements among the populations studied than in past reports.