Effects of Unsupervised Temporary Absences from Prison on Employment Status at Release

Various studies indicate that integration into educational, professional or job activities after imprisonment can reduce the likelihood of reoffending. One of the aims of granting prisoners temporary releases can be to ensure that they find such opportunities. This study tests the hypothesis that inmates who are granted unaccompanied temporary absences are more likely to have employment at the end of their sentence than inmates who have not been granted unaccompanied temporary absences. In the sample (N = 872 regular prisoners released from social therapy), it was found that those with unaccompanied temporary absences represented a positive selection in the sense that they had been better socially integrated prior to imprisonment and had had a lower risk of recidivism. In the subsequent matching and weighting models, in which the control of the covariates (or confounding variables) was well achieved, only a marginal and inconsistent effect of temporary absence on those who had been granted unaccompanied temporary absences was found. They hardly benefited from temporary release due to their better starting position. The effect was greater and more consistent for those who did not receive unaccompanied temporary release: Based on their poorer starting situation, they would be more likely to benefit from it. Irrespective of the possible (negative) effects on the number and quality of misuses of temporary release (e. g., absconding, offenses), the results suggest that a more liberal temporary release policy in social therapy could improve the chances of educational, professional or job activities at the end of the sentence.

Automated summary

Various studies show that integrating into education, profession, or job activities after imprisonment can reduce the possibility of committing another offense. This study investigates whether inmates who are granted unaccompanied temporary releases are more likely to find employment after their sentence ends. The findings indicate that inmates who had unaccompanied temporary releases were already better socially integrated and had a lower risk of recidivism. However, the effect of temporary release on employment was only marginal and inconsistent for those who had previously received unaccompanied temporary releases. On the other hand, the effect was greater and more consistent for those who had not received unaccompanied temporary releases. These results suggest that a more liberal temporary release policy in social therapy could enhance the opportunities for educational, professional, or job activities at the end of the sentence.