Offender Recidivism and Employment - Dissertation Example

that some forms of measurement and assistance help for certain types of offenders under particular conditions but, overall, the consensus that emerged is that this kind of program still has a long way to go before the benefits of employment can satisfactorily address the growing problem of recidivism. Table of ContentsAbstractTable of ContentsList of Tables List of FiguresI. INTRODUCTIONII. LITERATURE REVIEW I.A. Employment & Crime II.B. Barriers II.C. Recidivism II.D. Low Labor Market Value III.C. Reentry strategiesIII.

FINDINGSIV. SUMMARY, CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONSV. REFERENCES List of Tables ============================================================= Table 1: Number of Offenders held in Federal, State & Local Jails----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 2: Predictors of Recidivism----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- List of Figures============================================================= Figure 1: Problems that Make Inmates Unsuitable for Employment -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I.

IntroductionResearch shows that ex-convicts who are gainfully employed are less likely to return to jail (State Progress, 2007), thus reinforcing the view that employment for ex-prisoners benefits society tremendously by reducing the chances for recidivism. This makes employment the key that could unlock a. Research shows that ex-convicts who are gainfully employed are less likely to return to jail, thus reinforcing the view that employment for ex-prisoners benefits society tremendously by reducing the chances for recidivism.

This makes employment the key that could unlock a solution to the perennial problem of recidivism, the primary reason for prison congestion and overcrowding. However, individuals with criminal or arrest records face formidable challenges in finding employment, which challenges actually jeopardize public safety by contributing to recidivism. There are also the incalculable economic costs that accrue from recidivism because of the need to allocate endless funds for the upkeep and maintenance of prisons.

To address the problem of recidivism, many state and local programs have been devised but there is little evidence that the strategies they employ achieve meaningful outcomes. This paper sizes up the problem of recidivism and discusses its causes and effects together with the potential of employment to ease if not eliminate the problem. For this purpose, several reentry programs have been subjected to critical review and evaluation with the end in view of finding what reentry strategies are appropriate in the present context.

Offenders contend with more or less the same multiple barriers to obtaining and maintaining employment that other chronically underemployed people face, such as limited childcare, poor health, and education, lack of employable skills and the means to make themselves presentable to employers.