Assessing Economic Impacts and Return-on-Investment of Career Technical Education (CTE) and Industry-Based Certification (IBC) Programming

• In Event: Reentry, Rehabilitation, and ROI: Evaluating the Impact of Correctional Education, Employment, and Housing Programs

Abstract

Through the 2018 Second Chance Act Adult Reentry and Employment Strategic (ARES) Planning Program administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections (LA DPS&C) has sought to develop strategic public safety initiatives which utilize comprehensive, collaborative, and multisystemic approaches to reduce recidivism by enhancing post-release employment success among returning citizens. Such initiatives are required to examine current institutional practices to propose data-driven solutions ensuring the successful transition of returning citizens from LA DPS&C facilities to Louisiana communities. Given the association of career technical education with post-release employment success and reduced recidivism, it is essential to determine the alignment of such efforts with labor market needs, as well as the returns seen from such investments. The current study assesses the historic economic impact of returning citizens who enter the Louisiana labor force on the Louisiana economy, as well as the historic return-on-investment (ROI) of LA DPS&C educational and occupational trainings from CY 2015 through CY 2024.

Authors

• Timothy Thomas Reling, Mississippi State University - NSPARC

• Victoria Lynn Rapp, Mississippi State University - NSPARC

• Michael Spanbauer, Mississippi State University - NSPARC

• Yanbing Tang, Mississippi State University - NSPARC

• Hailea Molina, Mississippi State University - NSPARC

• Robert Vehock, Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections