NCJ Number
26807
Date Published
Unknown
Length
59 pages
Annotation
AN ASSESSMENT OF THIS PROJECT WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO RAISE THE LEVEL OF EMPLOYMENT IN A GROUP OF PREVIOUSLY UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED PROBATIONERS AND TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM RATES BY INCREASING THE LEVEL OF EMPLOYMENT.
Abstract
THE MODE OF TREATMENT USED WAS EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING. COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS FROM BUSINESS, INDUSTRY, BANKING, HEALTH AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS WORKED WITH UNEMPLOYED PROBATIONERS TO DEFINE REALISTIC EMPLOYMENT GOALS AND TO DEVISE STRATEGIES FOR THEIR ATTAINMENT. THIS EVALUATION IS BASED ON NINE MONTHS FOLLOWUP OF THE PARTICIPANTS WHO WERE RANDOMLY ASSIGNED TO CONTROL AND EXPERIMENTAL (TREATMENT) GROUPS. THE CONTROL GROUP HAD 42 SUBJECTS AND THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP CONTAINED 58 SUBJECTS. THE ASSESSMENT OF PROGRAM IMPACT IS BASED ON A COMPARISON OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THE RESPECTIVE GROUPS WITH REGARD TO ATTAINING EMPLOYMENT AND AVOIDING FURTHER TROUBLE WITH THE LAW. PERFORMANCE ON THE DIMENSIONS INDICATED IS MEASURED AT TWO INTERVALS - SIX AND NINE MONTHS AFTER THE ONSET OF TREATMENT. A MODEST TREATMENT IMPACT WAS FOUND, BUT THIS EFFECT DECLINED OVER TIME. VIRTUALLY NO DIFFERENCE WAS FOUND IN THE RATES OF RECIDIVISM OF THE EXPERIMENTAL AND CONTROL GROUPS AS MEASURED BY ARRESTS AND CONVICTIONS. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE MAJOR IMPACT OF TREATMENT WAS IN GETTING PEOPLE TO TAKE THE 'FIRST STEP'. HOWEVER, THE GAINS IN EMPLOYMENT STATUS DID NOT TRANSLATE THEMSELVES INTO WORKING SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER PORTIONS OF TIME, OR EARNING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE INCOME. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)