| More women than ever before are being sentenced to periods of parole and probation in the United States. As a result, the reintegration of these women into the community so that they can be successful, contributing members of society is of increasing importance. Unfortunately, the probation and parole system has evolved in recent years to focus on control and surveillance rather than assistance. The female offender must then return to the community which inspired her entrance into the world of criminal activity and search for new ways to meet her needs with little outside help. Although female offenders face many challenges, the possession of legal employment is a vital resource for the offender to both avoid a return to criminal activity and support herself and her family. However, not only does the female offender carry the stigma of a criminal record when encountering potential employers, but she also typically has few skills, low levels of education, and a limited work history. The proposed program aims to provide female offenders on probation and parole with career counseling, job placement, and skills development designed specifically for women. The goal of the proposed program is to address one requirement of successful reintegration by helping female offenders secure and maintain productive legal employment. |
