From Prisons to Jobs Improving Vocational Training in Prison and Opening Employment Pathways for Formerly Incarcerated New Yorkers
Overview
Securing stable employment is a critical factor in reducing recidivism among formerly incarcerated people. Every year, around 10,000 people are released from prison in New York, entering a labor market filled with barriers, restrictions, and stigma for those with conviction histories. Recognizing this fact, New York State offers a variety of programs to help incarcerated people prepare for employment after release.
Inspired by these efforts, the Vera Institute of Justice conducted research to explore access to in-prison vocational programming and post-release employment pathways in New York State. This report draws on the experiences of 104 formerly incarcerated people surveyed by Vera researchers. It provides recommendations for building on New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision’s (DOCCS) recent initiatives and offers strategies to measure and enhance their effectiveness.
Key Takeaway
Employment outcomes for people who participate in vocational training while incarcerated can improve by ensuring that training curricula in prisons are relevant to job market opportunities, increasing job placement support, and providing more opportunities to earn externally recognized certifications.
Publication Highlights
The jobs available to formerly incarcerated people often lack sufficient wages. Only half of those who found employment after release from DOCCS facilities indicated that their income covered basic household expenses.
Despite DOCCS requiring access to vocational training for people in their custody, a substantial portion of survey respondents—42 percent—reported facing operational barriers to accessing this programming.
DOCCS can provide clear pathways to stable employment for people returning home by expanding accredited vocational training and apprenticeship programs and building partnerships with community-based organizations and unions.