Education and Employment
The Issue
When a person is incarcerated, a tremendous opportunity exists to provide him or her with basic reading, writing, and math skills; a trade that is useful in the marketplace; and, sometimes, an advanced degree. Too often, this opportunity is lost because the class slots available are limited, not varied, or poorly timed; because programming does not correspond to the person's skill levels; or because the individual is not sufficiently interested in participating in the programs.
Challenges
- Poor basic education and marketable skills among people who are incarcerated
- Insufficient opportunities for people in prison and jail to participate in vocational or educational programs
- Work assignments or training provided during incarceration that do not always correspond to jobs available in the community
- Inadequate job opportunities, especially for people with few skills, in the communities to which prisoners return
- Statutory and regulatory barriers, in addition to employer concerns generally, regarding the employment of people with criminal records
- Lack of coordination between otherwise effective workforce systems and departments of correction
Our Publications
Public Housing Authorities and Prisoner Re-Entry
A growing number of people are released each year from state prison and local jails; this phenomenon, prisoner reentry, has a significant impact on housing programs administered by PHAs, including public housing, the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), and other programs.
Related Information
Issue Area:
Sex Offenders
Spotlight Announcement:
1/16/2009: The CSG Justice Center Releases Preview of Employment Blueprint
Reentry News Clip:
7/1/2009: Washington Times (DC): Ex-offenders can't find jobs
Reentry News Clip:
7/1/2009: USA Today: Study could ease concerns over hiring ex-offenders
Publication:
Road to Reintegration: Ensuring Successful Community Reentry for People Who Are Former Offenders
Goodwill Industries International
(2009)
Publication:
Road to Reintegration: Ensuring Successful Community Reentry for People Who Are Former Offenders (Executive Summary)
Goodwill Industries International
(2009)
Web Resource:
Center for Law and Social Policy
Program Example:
New York: Center for Employment Opportunities

