RESTORATION OF YOUTH THROUGH TRAINING, A FINAL REPORT.

THE PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT WAS TO PROVIDE VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR A SAMPLE OF YOUNG JAIL INMATES ON RIKERS ISLAND IN NEW YORK CITY AND TO EVALUATE THEIR SUBSEQUENT PERFORMANCE AND ADJUSTMENT UPON RELEASE. OF 264 INMATES SELECTED UPON THE BASIS OF TESTING AND OTHER CRITERIA, 137 WERE RANDOMLY ASSIGNED TO AN EXPERIMENTAL AND 127 TO A CONTROL GROUP. THE CONTROL GROUP FOLLOWED ORDINARY JAIL ROUTINE, AND THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP RECEIVED PUNCHED-CARD DATA-PROCESSING MACHINE TRAINING, REMEDIAL READING INSTRUCTION, INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, POST-JAIL SUPPORTIVE SERVICE, AND JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE. THE PROJECT WAS BESET BY PROBLEMS INCLUDING INSTITUTIONAL SPONSORSHIP, COMPLETE STAFF TURNOVER, FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, AND MISUNDERSTANDING. DESPITE THESE DIFFICULTIES, THE STUDY SHOWED EVIDENCE THAT A VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM IN JAIL COUPLED WITH POST-RELEASE SERVICES DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN JOB PERFORMANCE AND SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EXPERIMENTAL AND CONTROL GROUPS FAVORED THE FORMER GROUP IN (1) NON-RETURN TO JAIL, (2) NON-RETURN TO JAIL EVEN IF ADDICTED TO DRUGS, (3) NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES UPON RELEASE, (4) SOCIAL MOBILITY AS EVIDENCED BY JOB LEVEL, (5) REDUCTION IN INCIDENCE OF PHYSICAL LABOR JOBS, (6) INCREASE IN JOBS WITH PROMOTION POTENTIAL, (7) INCREASE IN JOBS WHERE JOB TRAINING WAS AVAILABLE, AND (8) INCREASED TENURE WITH FIRMS HIRING INMATES UPON RELEASE. APPENDIXES INCLUDE THE RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS, TABULAR DATA, A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE READING PROGRAM, AND WORKING PAPERS PREPARED BY STAFF MEMBERS. (JM)