NCJ Number
62250
Date Published
1978
Length
242 pages
Annotation
THIS PART OF A WASHINGTON STATE STUDY OF TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR ADULT OFFENDERS DISCUSSES RECOMMENDED METHODS FOR PROGRAM COORDINATION, PLANNING, EVALUATION, AND FOR PROVIDING GREATER OFFENDER ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT.
Abstract
IN 1978, OVER 19,000 ADULT FELONY OFFENDERS RESIDED IN WASHINGTON STATE, MOSTLY IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES, WITH THE REMAINDER INCARCERATED IN THE STATE'S ADULT CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. MOST OF THESE OFFENDERS WERE YOUNG, UNDEREDUCATED MALES; MOST HAD AN UNSTABLE WORK HISTORY AND FEW FINANCIAL RESOURCES. BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT FOR OFFENDERS CAN INCLUDE LACK OF MARKETABLE SKILLS, LACK OF JOB-SEARCHING SKILLS, POOR ATTITUDE AND MOTIVATION, AND EMPLOYER PREJUDICE. TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR OFFENDERS ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE JOB STABILITY REDUCES RECIDIVISM. THIS STUDY IDENTIFIED 55 PROGRAMS IN WASHINGTON STATE WHICH PROVIDE A VARIETY OF EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES SPECIFICALLY TO OFFENDERS. DUE TO LACK OF DATA AND POOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS, THE STUDY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONS PRESENTLY SERVED BY THESE PROGRAMS, THE RELATIVE SUCCESS OF THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS, AND THE LEVEL OF FUNDING REQUIRED TO MEET FUTURE CLIENT NEEDS. DESPITE THESE LIMITATIONS, THE STUDY DEVELOPED RECOMMENDATIONS UNDER THE CATEGORIES OF PROGRAM OPERATIONS, COORDINATION, FUNDING, AND EVALUATION CRITERIA. A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES IS SUGGESTED TO AID OFFENDERS BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER INCARCERATION. THESE SERVICES SHOULD INCLUDE INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAMS TO ASSIST A RESIDENT IN BECOMING EMPLOYABLE UPON HIS OR HER RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY; TRANSITIONAL PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE COORDINATION BETWEEN THE INSTITUTION, COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS, AND EMPLOYERS; AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS WHICH STRESS SHORT-TERM SUBSIDIZED EMPLOYMENT, ON-THE-JOB-TRAINING, AND JOB SEARCH ASSISTANCE. BETTER COORDINATION AMONG TRAINING PROGRAMS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES, INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS MIGHT BE PROMOTED THROUGH STATE AGENCY-FUNDED FINANCIAL INCENTIVES. A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR SERVICES DELIVERY CAN BE DEVELOPED ON A BIENNIAL BASIS, USING THESE STEPS: ASSESS CLIENT AND PROGRAM NEEDS, INVENTORY AVAILABLE RESOURCES, ESTABLISH PROGRAM PRIORITIES, AND MONITOR AND EVALUATE PROGRAM OUTCOMES. FINALLY, NEW FUND ALLOCATION METHODS AND EVALUATION CRITERIA, INCLUDING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT RESULTS, CLIENT EMPLOYMENT STATUS, CLIENT EARNINGS, AND AVERAGE COST PER PLACEMENT IN JOBS, ARE RECOMMENDED. TABLES, CHARTS, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND FOUR APPENDIXES OF RELATED STUDY MATERIAL ARE PROVIDED. FOR OTHER VOLUMES, SEE NCJ 62249, 62251-52. (PRG)