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Reconceptualizing Offender Employment

NCJ Number
185811
Journal
Forum on Corrections Research Volume: 12 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2000 Pages: 32-35
Author(s)
Christa A. Gillis
Date Published
May 2000
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes current offender employment measurement techniques and proposes modified measurement strategies.
Abstract
Even though employment is an important rehabilitative tool, little is known about the factors and processes that contribute to employment stability among offenders. Recent meta-analyses provide empirical verification of employment as a moderate risk factor for recidivism among offenders. This finding emphasizes the importance of enhanced understanding of the employment construct in order to provide effective assessment and to assist in reducing this need through appropriately directed intervention strategies. The article describes a theoretical framework for the exploration of community employment stability, and provides recommendations regarding directions for future employment intervention with offenders. The article explores how to assess employment needs, discusses employment as treatment, and describes a theoretical model to assist in predicting employment stability. The model adopts a social learning/social cognition perspective and incorporates the risk factors most predictive of recidivism. Notes