Assessing the statewide impact of the Specter Vocational Program on reentry outcomes: A propensity score matching analysis. Issue 1 (2nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hill, Leslie; Scaggs, Samuel J. A.; Bales, William D.
• Is Part Of: Journal of offender rehabilitation. Volume 56:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 61
• Page End: 86
• Publication Date: 2017-01-02
• Subjects: Program evaluation -- propensity score analyses -- recidivism -- reentry -- vocational program; Criminals -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Corrections -- Periodicals; Corrections -- United States -- Periodicals; 365.6610973
• DOI: 10.1080/10509674.2016.1257535
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1050-9674

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The Specter program was a vocational work program offered by the Florida Department of Corrections from 1997–2012. Using propensity score matching, inmates who earned a Specter vocational certificate had statistically significantly lower rates of recidivism within three years of release from prison compared to inmates who had not earned a certificate. However, those who earned a Specter certificate did not have statistically significant improvements in postrelease employment within three months of release. As a result, we will discuss the possibilities for conflicting findings regarding employment and recidivism as well as potential avenues for future research.