THE EARLIEST OFFENDER MANPOWER PROGRAMS WERE CONDUCTED SOLELY FOR INCARCERATED OFFENDERS. THEY HAVE OVER THE YEARS PROVIDED INMATES WITH TRAINING IN A LARGE NUMBER OF SKILL AREAS, SUCH AS WELDING, BRICKLAYING, AND KEYPUNCH OPERATIONS. MOST OF THE TRAINING HAS BEEN IN SKILLS WHICH ARE IN HIGH DEMAND IN THE COMMUNITY; IT HAS GENERALLY BEEN SHORT TERM AND AT THE ENTRY LEVEL OF SKILL PROFICIENCY. DIRECTORS OF SUCH PROGRAMS HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME DIFFICULTIES WITH CORRECTIONAL STAFF, WHO CONSIDER MANPOWER CONCERNS SECONDARY TO THE INSTITUTION'S CUSTODY AND SECURITY NEEDS AND WHO MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAMS. PROPER PLANNING HAS ALSO BEEN FOUND TO BE ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF A TRAINING PROGRAM -- THE INMATE MUST BE TRAINED IN A SKILL THAT IS NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY TO WHICH HE WILL BE RETURNING, AND HE MUST BE TRAINED TO AN ACCEPTABLE DEGREE OF PROFICIENCY. SOME OF THE IMPORTANT STEPS WHICH MUST BE TAKEN IN CREATING A MANPOWER PROGRAM ARE ASSESSING THE NEEDS AND SKILLS OF THE PRISON POPULATION; ASSESSING THE COMMUNITIES INTO WHICH OFFENDERS WILL MOST LIKELY BE RETURNING; ASSESSING EMPLOYERS' DISCRIMINATORY PERSONNEL POLICIES; AND EVALUATING EXISTING PRISON INDUSTRIES AND PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION TO PRISON-BASED MANPOWER PROGRAMS, MANY RECENT PROGRAMS HAVE BEGUN TO FOCUS UPON ALTERNATIVES TO ADJUDICATION AND INCARCERATION, IN ORDER TO AVOID THE COMMUNITY'S INSTITUTIONALIZED BARRIERS TO EX-OFFENDERS EMPLOYMENT. A NUMBER OF PRETRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAMS EXIST WHICH ATTEMPT TO DIVERT THE OFFENDER AFTER ARREST INTO A COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECT WHICH PROVIDES MANPOWER SERVICES TO THE PARTICIPANT, INCLUDING JOB DEVELOPMENT AND PLACEMENT, COUNSELING AND EDUCATION. MOST INVOLVE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SCREENING ALL BUT POTENTIALLY SUCCESSFUL OFFENDERS AND AN AGREEMENT WITH THE COURT THAT IF THE OFFENDER IS SUCCESSFUL, CHARGES WILL BE DISMISSED. ASSESSMENTS OF MANY OF THESE PROJECTS HAVE SHOWN A DECREASE IN RECIDIVISM FOR THEIR PARTICIPANTS, AS WELL AS ECONOMIC SAVINGS TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND TO THE COMMUNITY. THESE AND OTHER RELATED PREADJUDICATION PROGRAMS MUST HAVE THE COOPERATION AND SUPPORT OF THE COURTS AND THE PROSECUTION TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THE FINAL TYPE OF MANPOWER PROGRAM INVOLVES TRAINING IN THE COMMUNITY. THESE PROJECTS GENERALLY TAKE ONE OF TWO FORMS -THOSE WHICH SENTENCE THE OFFENDER TO A COMMUNITY-BASED RESIDENTIAL FACILITY AND THOSE WHICH WORK WITH THE OFFENDER WHO REPORTS ON A REGULAR BASIS TO SOME SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY, USUALLY PROBATION OR PAROLE. THESE PROJECTS OFFER THE IMPORTANT BENEFIT THAT THE PARTICIPANT IS ENABLED TO WORK IN THE REAL WORLD AND IS GIVEN THE WIDEST RANGE OF POSSIBILITIES FOR JOBS, TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND COUNSELING. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT DIRECTORS OF ALL OF THESE VARIOUS TYPES OF PROGRAMS REALIZE THE INSTITUTIONAL, LEGAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESTRICTIONS OFTEN PLACED ON EX-OFFENDERS. A NUMBER OF STATES ARE WORKING TO ABOLISH THESE BARRIERS, BUT MANY STILL EXIST. (VDA)