Beyond the Employment Dichotomy: An Examination of Protective and Risk Factors by Employment Status

• In Event: The Role of Post-Releaes Employment and Reentry

Abstract

The current study examines the relationship between employment and recidivism among re-entering persons who received corrections-based drug abuse treatment. Follow-up data from participants at 12-months post-release was examined to identify variation of risk factors associated with reincarceration by employment status. At follow-up, about half of the sample was employed full-time (52.45%), with 19.12% working part-time, 11.37% disabled, and 17.06% unemployed. Cox proportional hazard modeling results indicate individuals who were homeless (Hazard Ratio:4.13) or used substances in the prior 12 months (HR:3.31) were most at risk for reincarceration. Homelessness and drug use were risk factors for all employment groups (full-time, part-time, disabled, and unemployed). However, individuals employed full-time faced the greatest risk of reincarceration due to homelessness (HR: 5.26). Protective factors were unique by employment status such that only individuals working part-time and those who were disabled were less likely to recidivate if living in a rural location (HR: 0.87, 0.81 respectively). Disabled individuals with increasing amounts of social support (HR: 0.99) faced lower risk of recidivating as well. In addition to identification of barriers to a successful reentry, results indicate that when full-time employment is not obtained individuals in rural locations may be at reduced risk for recidivating.

Authors

• Amanda Bunting, University of Kentucky

• Erin McNees Winston, Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, University of Kentucky

• Michele Staton-Tindall, University of Kentucky

• Kevin Pangburn, Kentucky Department of Corrections