Youthful Offender Job Readiness Program

About the Program

Category: Personnel Management, Employment and Training (Best in Category)

Year: 2013

The Circuit Court of Lake County, Illinois has developed a Job Readiness Program for adjudicated youth on probation and community supervision. It is a well-documented phenomenon that correctional clients are generally less well-educated and have fewer marketable job skills than persons in the general population. The ability to maintain continuous employment correlates highly with reduced recidivism. Providing juvenile probationers with the skills and opportunities associated with employment can effectively discourage future acts of delinquency and subsequent incarceration. Additionally, the opportunity to develop positive relationships with authority figures can promote a strong work ethic and provide pro-social models and community supports. Currently, there are many juvenile probationers who are in need of structured interventions and opportunities to secure and maintain employment. The Youthful Offender Job Readiness Program provides adjudicated youth with life skills relative to the experience of employment, which helps build a foundation to become a productive member of society. Further, the program presents youth with the options of earning money through legitimate means, and in turn paying back fees and restitution which are a result of their previous delinquent behaviors.