Which Components of Transitional Jobs Programs Work Best? Analysis of Programs for Former...

“Transitional jobs (TJ) models have emerged as a promising approach for increasing employment and reducing recidivism among the growing population of former prisoners" (p.1). "The purpose of the TJRD transitional jobs programs was to provide immediate employment to individuals in settings where performance and workplace issues could be identified and addressed, and not necessarily to build skills in any particular occupation. Through this process, the TJ programs aimed to increase participants’ long‐term ability to succeed in subsequent, unsubsidized employment settings" (p.3).

"Each site tracked client participation in various TJ program components using a management information system. For this brief, [the authors] focus on participation during the first six months after random assignment (months 1–6). [They] then compare these data to outcomes during the subsequent six months (months 7–12)" (p.3). (Abstractor: Author)

Full publication title: Which Components of Transitional Jobs Programs Work Best? Analysis of Programs for Former Prisoners in the Transitional Jobs Reentry Demonstration

• "TJ program participants who spent 30 workdays or more in a transitional job during the first six months of the follow‐up period (at a rate of four workdays per week, which equates to two months of time) were 14 percent more likely than other TJ program participants to obtain an unsubsidized job in the subsequent six months" (p. 12). • "The Transitional Jobs programs had no significant overall effects on recidivism outcomes, across all four states, for the one‐year follow‐up period" (p.7). • "...job readiness/development assistance, supportive payments, and retention bonuses provided to TJ program participants had some associations with improved employment outcomes later. However, neither of the other TJ program components we tested (namely, case management services and vocational training) showed consistent effects on the likelihood or amount of subsequent unsubsidized employment" (p.12). (Abstractor: Author)

• Last Updated:
• Created:
• Resource Publication Date: 2012
• Author(s): Yahner, Jennifer; Zweig, Janine M.
• Organizational Author(s): Urban Institute
• Funding Source: Joyce Foundation, JEHT Foundation, U.S. Department of Labor
• Resource Availability: Publicly available
• Posted by: Wesley Peterson
• Posted in: Workforce System Strategies