Structuring Employment-Based Services Within Jail Spaces and Schedules: Early Lessons from Linking to Employment Activities Pre-Release (LEAP) Issue Brief
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About the Brief
The brief discusses how Linking to Employment Activities Pre-Release (LEAP) workforce development staff worked with jail administrators to gain access to jail space and their strategies for scheduling services inside a jail-based American Job Center (AJC). It relies on data gathered through site visits to eight LEAP sites during the planning period for LEAP, as well as tours of all 20 jail-based AJCs being implemented by grantees.
Key Takeaways
- The particular facility or area within the facility where the jail-based AJC was located, along with its associated reentry focus and security level, significantly influenced the development of the AJC, the process for participants to access the space, and the negotiations around scheduling of AJC services.
- Early on site time with jail leadership and staff was critical for understanding space and scheduling parameters, assessing what was feasible, and making necessary adjustments.
- Securing the buy-in of corrections officers was just as important as buy-in from jail administrative staff, given the considerable logistics involved with inmate movement and the complexity of daily jail schedules.
Citation
Henderson-Frakes, J. (2016). Social Policy Research Associates. Structuring Employment-Based Services Within Jail Spaces and Schedules: Issue Brief—Early Lessons from LEAP. Chief Evaluation Office, U.S. Department of Labor.
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The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) sponsors independent evaluations and research, primarily conducted by external, third-party contractors in accordance with the Department of Labor Evaluation Policy and CEO’s research development process.