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EVALUATION RESEARCH ON THE PUBLIC OFFENDER PROGRAM AT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - FINAL REPORT

NCJ Number
15674
Author(s)
L HUDZINSKI; R KLEFF; M BAUM
Date Published
1974
Length
58 pages
Annotation
ASSESSMENT OF A TRAINING PROGRAM TO INCREASE EX-OFFENDER EMPLOYABILITY THROUGH WORK AND PERSONAL ADJUSTMENT, THEREBY DECREASING CRIMINAL RECIDIVISM.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM ATTEMPTS TO OFFER CLIENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ESTABLISH A WORK RECORD SO THAT GOODWILL CAN PROVIDE JOB RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS. A MAXIMUM OF APPROXIMATELY 30 CLIENTS SPEND 10 WEEKS IN A PROGRAM OF WORK, COUNSELING, AND PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE. EACH CLIENT STARTS AT A FIXED HOURLY RATE AND CAN BE GRANTED AN INCREASE OF 10 CENTS AN HOUR AT THE END OF EACH OF THE FIRST FOUR WEEKS. ACTUAL WAGES DEPEND ON PERSONAL AND JOB PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION. THE PROGRAM TARGET IS THAT EACH CLIENT BE REFERRED FOR PLACEMENT OR TRAINING BETWEEN THE FOURTH AND SIXTH WEEK. THIS FINAL REPORT CONCENTRATES ON FOUR PROGRAM AREAS, DISCUSSING EACH SEPARATELY, AND PRESENTING THE EVALUATION RESULTS. THESE FOUR AREAS INCLUDE RECORD KEEPING PROCEDURES, FOLLOW UP DATA AND INTERVIEWS WITH A CLIENT SAMPLE, FOLLOW UP DATA AND INTERVIEWS WITH PROGRAM STAFF, AND DATA FROM INTERVIEWS WITH EMPLOYERS OF GRADUATING CLIENTS. STUDY FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT THE PROGRAM IS FACING SEVERAL PROBLEMS. POOR RISK CLIENTS ADMITTED INTO THE PROGRAM AFFECT SUCCESS RATES. THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH CLIENT MOTIVATION, AND THE EX-OFFENDER STILL HAS A HARD TIME IN THE JOB MARKET. A COPY OF THE EMPLOYERS EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE IS INCLUDED IN THE APPENDIX.

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