The New York based Center for Employment Opportunities has been working for over thirty years to help formerly incarcerated persons find employment. Originally CEO was a part of the Vera Institute of Justice in the 1970’s. In 1996, CEO left the Vera Institute and became an independent non-profit organization. CEO is unique in that it is the only organization in New York City that provides reentering citizens with a job within a short time period of being released. The organization has placed over 10,000 former prisoners, and has offices in New York City, Buffalo, Westchester, and Albany.
Vera Institute of Justice and MDRC recently did a study titled Recidivism Effects of Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) Program Vary by Former Prisoners’ Risk of Reoffending, which discovered that those at a higher risk to recidivate gained more from the CEO program than those classified with a medium or low risk. A high risk offender was classified as someone 33 years or older with nine or more arrests, or 28 years or older with a history of seven or more arrests. Age, gender and the number of arrests are considered a predictor of the chance of recidivating. Individuals older than 44, women, and those with a low arrest rate were considered low risk.
The Vera Institute and MDRC report suggests that available funds would be better put to use on high risk offenders who seem to profit more from the CEO program more than those in a lower risk category.
To view the full report Click here to go to website
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