About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline

LOG IN
LOG IN


31 J. Offender Rehab. 1 (2000)

handle is hein.journals/wjor31 and id is 1 raw text is: Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, Vol. 31 (1/2), 2000. Pp. 1-41. © 2000 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved. Effectiveness of Vocational Education and Employment Programs for Adult Offenders: A Methodology-Based Analysis of the Literature JEFFREY A. BOUFFARD University of Maryland DORIS LAYTON MACKENZIE University of Maryland LAURA J. HICKMAN University of Maryland ABSTRACT A number of jurisdictions have adopted vocational education and employment programs intended, among other aims, to reduce recidivism among adult correctional populations. Because of the well-established links between low educational attainment, unemployment and crime, these pro- grams do seem to target a risk factor for recidivism. Whether, in fact, they are effective in reducing future offending behavior is still open to question. This review assesses the empirical status of the effectiveness of vocational educa- tion and employment programs by drawing conclusions based upon systemat- ic rankings of methodological rigor of individual program evaluations. Evalu- ation research in vocational education/job training, community employment, and correctional industries program areas was assessed. Based upon rankings of methodological rigor and specific decision criteria for assessing overall empirical support for program effectiveness, several types were identified as generally successful at reducing offender recidivism, including vocational education, multi-component correctional industry, and community employ-