The Importance of Getting Started Right

Abstract

This study examined the facility-to-community transition of 531 incarcerated youth following their release from Oregon's juvenile correctional system, for a period of 12 months. Data on the sample were gathered through phone interviews, while they were still in custody and then every 6 months after their parole. The interviewees were asked to describe their work, educational, and living and social experiences in the community. For this sample, (a) being engaged in work and/or school within 6 months after parole and (b) receiving services from mental health and other social service agencies within 6 months in the community were associated with being engaged in work and/or school 12 months after exit. Participants with disabilities were less likely to be engaged and were more likely to return to the juvenile correctional system than participants without disabilities.