A National Portrait of Registered Apprenticeships in Corrections

• In Event: Context Matters: Opportunities and Lessons from Adapting and Scaling Apprenticeships Across Service Environments

Abstract

This Mathematica study funded by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Chief Evaluation Office in partnership with the Employment and Training Administration seeks to understand what is known about registered apprenticeship programs that operate in federal, state, and local correctional institutions, as well as the people that participate in those programs and their outcomes. The study is being conducted in two phases. In the first phase, the study team will analyze data from DOL’s RAPIDS system for registered apprenticeship data to look at the characteristics of inmates who are registered apprentices, and interview corrections-based registered apprenticeship sponsors to understand how their programs are implemented. In the second phase, the study team will look at employment and earnings outcomes for inmates who participated in correctional registered apprenticeship programs from 2005 to 2025. 

The presentation will focus on the first phase of the study, which documented findings from interviews with sponsors in eight states who operate registered apprenticeship programs in correctional facilities. The findings include lessons learned on establishing and scaling programs in the correctional context, innovative approaches to delivery, and examples from states with promising strategies. The presentation will also cover national trends in program enrollment, completion, and occupations for corrections-based apprenticeship programs.

This study addresses a critical gap in the evidence base on workforce development interventions for justice-involved populations. As policymakers and practitioners increasingly prioritize reentry outcomes, registered apprenticeship programs have emerged as a promising strategy for equipping incarcerated individuals with pathways to stable employment upon release. However, there is limited systematic evidence on how these programs operate within correctional environments, where institutional constraints, security considerations, and coordination challenges can significantly affect implementation.

This session will provide actionable insights for policymakers, correctional administrators, and workforce development practitioners seeking to expand access to high-quality training opportunities. The findings are particularly relevant in the context of ongoing labor shortages in skilled trades and growing interest in leveraging correctional education and training programs to improve post-release employment outcomes and reduce recidivism.

Author

• Ryan M Ruggiero, Mathematica
  Presenting Author