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Criminal justice partners, including Marion County Probation, Indianapolis Parole District 3, Duvall Residential Center, and Marion County Reentry Court, referred interested and eligible formerly incarcerated people to take part in two-day orientation session. People were eligible if they were aged 18 or older, had been convicted of a crime as an adult under federal or state law, had not been convicted of a sex offense, had been released from prison in the past 120 days, scored medium to high on the Indiana Risk Assessment System, were not in violation of supervision, and did not have recent continuous employment for four or more quarters. A total of 998 people were randomly assigned to either the treatment group (501) or the control group (497).
Evaluators randomly assigned people into groups for the study from January 2012 to November 2013. The study reports impacts up to 30 months after random assignment.
Employment and Training Administration in the U.S. Department of Labor and Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The study examined formerly incarcerated people. Most people were male (96 percent) and Black (82 percent) and were, on average, 34 years old. At the time the study began, 7 percent were married, 51 percent were noncustodial parents, and 24 percent did not have a high school diploma.
Social enterprises (RecycleForce, New Life Development Ministries, and The Changed Life)
Originally called Workforce, Inc, the RecycleForce program launched in 2006. Under the Enhanced Transitional Jobs Demonstration grant, the model expanded to include new support services and was also carried out by two additional social enterprises.
The RecylceForce program served formerly incarcerated people. Participants were placed in a transitional job at a social enterprise (for example, an electronics recycling plant), for which they received $9 per hour for 35 hours per week (and $10.10 per hour after March 2014). In addition to the training and experience offered at their transitional job, participants had access to peer mentors who taught job-related skills and soft skills, case management, job development, financial support, and child support assistance. When participants obtained unsubsidized employment, they also had access to employment retention services.
Control group members could not participate in the RecycleForce program, but they received a list of alternative resources, including those related to employment, child support, food assistance, clothing, housing, health, and legal assistance.
None.
Transitional jobs could last four months.
Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor
The program took place at three social enterprises in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Criminal justice, Child support, Material hardship, Economic and personal well-being