Capstone Project for CIED 5370

for EberhardtFrederick Eberhardt

CIED 5370

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EDUCATION AND THE RETENTION OF FORMERLY INCARCERATED INVIDUALS

How to use education to improve the lives of those

formerly incarcerated.

Vocational education is best.

Some government grants go for college also.

This can help ease financial trauma.

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The idea of extending vocational education programs: such as; associate

degrees to those who have been formerly incarcerated requires careful

statistical analysis. For many years, Re-integration has been difficult for

certain populations affected by incarceration. Families of those

incarcerated often suffer financially, medically, and socially. The loss of

compensation and the damage to one’s career is significant for a one or

two breadwinner income. Often, people lose insurance and get fired after

incarceration. This goes on one’s record and is an impediment to future

employment. Criminal background checks complicate the process further

as employers scrutinize the files and often do not hire individuals on this

basis. Those individuals that are fortunate enough to get hired after

incarceration often are only able to make minimum wage in food service

or charity good will jobs.

BackgroundVocational training is central to success in

retention programs and in society. After being

behind bars for so many years, it is difficult for

people to become re-integrated. So, after all

these years they return to normal life changed

and must be re-integrated with families and life

circumstances. Along with this goes the need to

belong and be gainfully employed. After

receiving care and direction in prison, people

must guide themselves. They must fit in with

society and follow its rules. They must self-

regulate and find employment. They must find

housing. Without access to credit and an

employment record it will be difficult to find jobs

and pay bills.

Crime can be alleviated with programs that

employ people for volunteering in federal

programs and they also learn job skills. They are

at a severe disadvantage to other job seekers.

High rates of unemployment are rampant. And

they need to work together and as a team at

work and school to make things work better. So,

the study is about trying to figure out ways to re-

integrate the recently incarcerated into school

and the general workforce.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

RETENTION-Being able to stay in society, live, work, pay expenses and get along with others and

housemates.

RECIBIDIVISM-Being unable to cope with living in society, committing crimes and going back to

prison.

GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT-Full-time lifelong employment with a career focus, specialization and work

experience.

Vocational education-Career-based and focused education, with practical outcomes and benchmarks

in sight.

CAREER EDUCATION—with a specific career goal in mind, not theoretical.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE EDUCATION—two year degree.

LIMITATIONS-Not serious offenders ages, 25-49.

DELIMITATIONS- Not general population at - large.

ASSUMPTIONS- Not serious offenders.

TRUTHFULNESS AND ETHICS- Good risks for employment.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

The centerpiece of the study is the necessity to address issues of access to literacy, education,

Social Service and job training for those recently released from prison. They need a network of resources to be productive and to learn and grow in their chosen profession. It is not enough to release them; the resources have to be in place to keep them from having to return to jail.

HYPOTHESIS

Support groups for every kind of addiction exist. Former offenders need to be

able to access

these resources in order to flourish in society. Theoretically, when someone

embezzles, they cannot handles money anymore. Or, someone who is a

pedophile would not be allowed to work with kids. But, there are so many

people who want work today, that arguably people would not hire someone

with a criminal record. Even after having it expunged, there are still instances

where a criminal background check would not uncover it.

So, the theory of diverting workers into areas where they would be safer for

the company probably doesn’t work because all it does eventually is hinder

your chances for advancement and make sure that you stay entry level or

reduce chances to earn benefits. However, there are government programs

being developed with the increasing level of offenders returning to work, that

are gaining popularity and are becoming successful at life skills and other

skills that they need to be retained in society.

Assumptions

All the people in the study were previously

incarcerated.

They are ages 18-46.

They are men and women, all races and all in

vocational education programs.

A few are studying for college degrees.

Limitations

The weakness of the study is that there are people

in the ages between 18-46.

No one is surveying juveniles or geriatric

populations in this study.

It is limited to those who are capable of gainful

employment.

Delimitations

Those people included in the study were

misdemeanor crimes only and light criminal

behavior.

Mainly white collar crimes.

Nothing with felonies or murders.

Something perhaps drug related would be okay for

the purpose of the study.

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Continued Literature Review