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Study Name
Study of Minnesota Vocational Education for Incarcerated People
Study Sharepoint ID
101054
Evaluation name
The Effects of Vocational Education on Recidivism and Employment Among Individuals Released Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Intervention (standard name)
Minnesota Vocational Education for Incarcerated People
Outcome domains examined
Increase short-term employment
Increase short-term earnings
Strength of Evidence Tag
Moderate
Reason for the Rating

This study received a moderate study quality rating because it is a quasi-experimental design that establishes that the intervention and comparison groups are similar at baseline and adjusts impact estimates to account for any minor differences in the gro

This study received a moderate study quality rating because it is a quasi-experimental design that establishes that the intervention and comparison groups are similar at baseline and adjusts impact estimates to account for any minor differences in the groups.

Design
Quasi-experimental design
Services
Soft skills training
Occupational or sectoral training
Populations targeted
At least a high school diploma or equivalent
Justice involvement
Settings in which the intervention was studied
Tested in multiple settings

Subgroups

Subgroup data - Female
No
Subgroup data - Male
No
Subgroup data - White
No
Subgroup data - Black
No
Percent Justice involved
100.00
Percent female
7.65
Percent Male
92.35
Percent With a high school diploma or GED
100.00
Percent White
59.10
Mean age
35.50
Group formation formatted
Vocational programs were available in all Minnesota state prison facilities for anyone who had a high school diploma or GED prior to enrollment. Additional eligibility requirements were imposed on a case-by-base basis and typically included reviews of prior educational achievement, work history, and anticipated employability after release. The authors used a propensity score matching design with exact matching to construct a comparison group comprised of individuals released during the same time period who did not complete the program. Among a pool of 928 incarcerated individuals who had completed a vocational program and were released in 2019 or 2020 and 6,941 non-completers eligible for vocational programming also released in 2019 or 2020, 652 vocational program completers were matched to 652 comparison group members.
Study timing formatted
3 years
Study funding formatted
The study author declared no receipt of financial support for the study.
Sample Characteristics
Over 90% of study participants were male. The average participant was in their mid-30s and less than 10% were identified as married.
Implementing organization formatted
Minnesota Department of Corrections
Program history
Minnesota Department of Corrections facilities have offered vocational programs since 2018.
Treatment condition formatted
The treatment group was comprised of individuals released from Minnesota Department of Corrections facilities between 2019 and 2020 who completed vocational training programs while incarcerated.
Comparison condition formatted
The comparison group was comprised of individuals released from Minnesota Department of Corrections facilities between 2019 and 2020 who did not complete vocational training programs but were otherwise matched with the treatment participants on observable characteristics.
Mandatory services formatted
None
Timing of study formatted
Not described.
Program funding formatted
Not described.
Setting details formatted
Minnesota Department of Corrections facilities statewide.
Delivered by public or private entity?
Public
Secondary domains examined
Recidivism outcomes, including rearrest, reconviction, reincarceration for a new offense, and revocation of supervised release.
Earliest publication year
2023
Most recent publication year
2023
Manuscripts
101054_01_McNeeley
Check edits flag
No
Primary Service
Occupational or sectoral training
Services Unclear
This field is populated using a formula. Do not manually edit.
Enrollment Period
January 2019 to December 2020
Intervention Duration
0.00
Subgroup data - Hispanic
No
State & Region
Minnesota