Offender Rentry

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to adapt and experimentally test the effectiveness of a research-based, employment-focused group counseling intervention (OPTIONS). OPTIONS was designed to increase male inmates’ exploration and identification of employment interests and options, identification and development of employment-search skills, and knowledge of vocational options, goal planning, and identification and use of contextual supports. A randomized block design and measurements at pretest, post test, and 1-month follow-up were used to examine the effects of OPTIONS. Participants included 77 (n = 38 treatment, n = 39 control) adult male inmates. Results indicated that OPTIONS participants had higher career search self efficacy, problem solving, and hopefulness scores at post test and follow-up than did treatment-as-usual control group participants.As indicated in the statistics presented in the introductory article (Varghese & Cummings, XXXX), the United States has experienced exponential growth of incarcerated offenders in recent decades, with the vast majority of these offenders likely to be released. Stable employment is one of the strongest predictors of offenders’ post release success, including recidivism, whereas...

Additional Resource: OPTIONS for Preparing Inmates for Community Reentry: An Employment Preparation Intervention (2649 downloads ) ...