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The study included formerly incarcerated people who had been released from jail or prison within the past six months. The study used a randomized controlled trial in which eligible participants were asked to draw either a red or white poker chip from a small bag. The intervention group consisted of participants who selected the red chip, and the comparison group consisted of participants who selected the white chip. In all, 115 participants were in the intervention group and 102 participants were in the comparison group. Enrollment occurred from November 2008 to November 2010.
The study conducted baseline interviews from November 2008 to November 2010 and conducted follow-up interviews about one year later.
The Smith Richardson Foundation.
The study included formerly incarcerated participants with a majority of male participants (83 percent) and an average age of 35. The vast majority of the participants were unmarried (88 percent), and about half (48 percent) lacked a high school degree. About one-third (35 percent) of the sample was Hispanic (35 percent), 31 percent was White, and 22 percent was African American.
Community-based organization
The reentry program had been in operation since the early 1990s.
The employment-focused reentry program provided three or four weeks (40 hours per week) of soft-skills training followed by employment placement assistance and access to computer labs for job-seeking activities. People who completed the program were eligible to receive services for life.
The comparison group did not receive the reentry program but were provided a list of community resources.
None.
Public and private funding
The study took place in a community-based reentry program provider in Southern California.
Housing; criminal activity; substance use; health; legal status