Project: PRISONER REENTRY INITIATIVE – EVALUATION   

Sponsor: U.S. Department of Labor through Coffey Communications, LLC      
Status:   In process   
IPS Staff: David Altschuler

Purpose and Approach
The Department of Labor has funded 30 sites located in 20 states to develop and implement employment-centered services targeted on offenders returning from incarceration. The intent is to reduce recidivism by helping inmates find work when they return to their communities. Statistics demonstrate that even before incarceration, many prisoners have weak or nonexistent ties to the workforce. Frequently there are also substance abuse and mental health issues that contribute to a return to criminal activity. The Prisoner Reentry Initiative enlists faith-based and community-based organizations to deliver social services to newly released inmates and seeks to coordinate service provision with supervision to ensure accountability for their behavior upon release.

This project will assess the evolution of the Prisoner Reentry Initiative implementation, the short-term outcomes of clients served by the program—including the percentage hired and retained in employment, average earnings, the number who attain a diploma or certification, and the percentage who remain drug-free and crime-free—and the cost of providing these services.

Results and Publications
Forthcoming.