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The study used a difference-in-difference analysis to examine how participation in an Illinois ATC affected the earnings and employment of formerly incarcerated men. The sample included men released from Illinois state prisons between Quarter 1 of 1995 and Quarter 2 of 2003 who committed a crime in Cook County. The author selected individuals who participated in an ATC and served fewer than four years in prison as the intervention group; the comparison group consisted of individuals released from a minimum-security prison after serving more than 85 days (but fewer than 4 years), excluding those had been convicted of sex offenses or class X felonies, since these populations were not eligible for ATC placement. The intervention group included 6,057 ATC participants, and the comparison group included 6,136 ATC-eligible individuals who did not participate in the program, either because they did not apply or were not selected to participate.
The study examined individuals released from prison between 1995 and 2003. Outcome data for study participants is available for an average of 21.3 quarters after release.
Illinois Department of Corrections
ATCs, run by the Illinois Department of Corrections, provided prisoners with the opportunity to serve a portion of their prison term while living and working in the community. When first placed in an ATC, participating prisoners received counseling and 35 hours a week of individualized education, public service, training, and employment programming. After complying with rules and participation requirements for 23 days, participants may seek employment in the community, with support from the ATC. Over the course of the program, participants progress through four levels of programming, where each level has its own standards, goals, and privileges. Until release, the state withholds 20 percent of the participant's after-tax earnings. Participants are removed from the ATC and sent back to prison if they violate any major rule.
The comparison group included individuals released from minimum-security prisons in Illinois who were eligible for, but did not participate in, an ATC program.
None.