- Log in to post comments
People who were incarcerated, were within five years of the end of their sentence, and had at least six months of work experience through the state's prison industry program (Minnesota Correctional Industries) were eligible to participate in EMPLOY. Participation in EMPLOY was voluntary and required submitting an application. The study authors used propensity score matching to match 232 EMPLOY participants in the intervention group to 232 nonparticipants in the comparison group (out of 3,959 individuals who did not participate). All study participants were released from Minnesota prisons between 2006 and 2008.
Individuals included in the study were released from prison between July 2006 and December 2008, and follow-up data were collected until the end of June 2010. Individuals received services for 12 months after release.
The authors did not receive any funding for this study.
All study participants were released from a Minnesota prison after June 2006 but before January 2009. In the intervention group, most participants were male (78 percent), and the average age at release was 37. About half of intervention group participants were not White (46 percent). In the comparison group, most participants were male (81 percent), and the average age was about 35. About half of intervention group participants were not White (43 percent).
Minnesota Correctional Industries
EMPLOY was implemented in 2006. Study participants were released from prison during or after July 2006.
The EMPLOY program aimed to help people incarcerated in Minnesota prisons obtain and retain employment. People in the intervention group received EMPLOY services during the last 60 to 90 days of their prison sentence and for a year after their release. After being accepted into EMPLOY, participants met with a job training specialist for two eight-hour sessions to go over job search preparation and techniques and interviewing skills. During the last week before participants' release, a job development specialist searched for job leads, located open positions, and communicated with potential employers. After participants were released from prison, they had an appointment with a retention specialist in their community to receive a portfolio with their resume, certification from EMPLOY, job leads, and other tools like bus fare and clothes for interviews. Retention specialists conducted 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up meetings with participants.
The comparison group included people who were eligible for EMPLOY but did not participate in the program. They received standard reintegration services.
None
Participants received services in the last 60 to 90 days of their prison sentence and for a full year after their release.
Not available
The study look place in Minnesota prisons and the communities to which ex-offenders were released.
Recidivism