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Two program sites recruited and enrolled eligible youth who were 18 to 24 years old, were involved in the criminal justice system (were on parole or probation, were in an alternative to incarceration program, or had been released from prison or jail in the last year), and lived in specific zip codes in the Bronx or Brooklyn, NY. Eligible applicants were enrolled in the study in cohorts and randomly assigned to the intervention or comparison group. Random assignment occurred from October 2008 to December 2009 and was initially conducted across all referral sources (three cohorts) but then conducted separately by referral source (eight cohorts).
Individuals enrolled in the study from October 2008 to December 2009 and were followed for up to two and a half years.
The study was funded by an office of the the New York City mayor, the NYC Center for Economic Opportunity.
The study sample was, on average, 21 years old, and most (90 percent) sample members were male. The majority of the sample members were Black (75 percent), and about one-third were Hispanic of any race (33 percent). About one-third (31 percent) of the sample had graduated from high school or had an equivalent certificate.
New York City Justice Corps
The intervention started at about the same time as the study. The intervention began in September 2008 in one location (that cohort is excluded from the analysis), and the study began in October 2008.
New York City Justice Corps was a six-month employment-related intervention for justice-involved young adults ages 18 to 24. Participants progressed through three phases of services: (1) job-readiness and life skills training, (2) community service, and (3) paid internships in public or private organizations or placement in a job or educational program. Participants could continue to receive work-readiness services during Phases 2 and 3, and in all phases, participants could receive job coaching, counseling, and education services. Participants received a small weekly stipend while they were in the program (up to $280 per week). After graduating from the six-month program, participants could receive job retention services for up to an additional six months.
Comparison group members were referred to alternative employment-related programs.
None.
Six months
NYC Center for Economic Opportunity
The program took place in two community-based organizations in New York City, NY.
Criminal justice; pro- and anti-social activities; friends' behaviors; self-efficacy; employment barriers