OFFENDER EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

Director: Kelly Lindseth
Technical assistance: Terry Weber
Employment Security Department
P.O. Box 9046
Olympia, WA 98507-9046
Telephone: 360.438.4159
Fax: 360.438.4777
E-mail: klindseth@esd.wa.gov
E-mail: tlweber@esd.wa.gov

State Website: http://www.wa.gov/esd/oes/

Participation: Offender Employment Services assisted more than 4,000 offenders in institutions and community programs during July 1, 2006-June 30, 2007.

Who is Served: Participants are adult offenders in state correctional institutions and adult ex-offenders residing in local communities.

Program Description: This program delivers employment reentry programs to individuals with criminal histories. The Employment Security Department employs trained staff and works with a network of local contractors to provide pre-employment workshops and career fairs at several state prisons, offering job counseling for ex-offenders, incentives to businesses that hire offenders, a reentry guide for offenders, and training for professionals who counsel offenders. The primary outcomes of Offender Employment Services is to reduce recidivism and increase public safety through employment.

Other Program Characteristics: Employment and training services for offenders are delivered through Offender Employment Services partnerships with the Department of Corrections, community-based organizations, and other offender employment and training providers.

Program History: Offender Employment Services, formerly known as Corrections Clearinghouse, was founded in 1972 to provide offender employment services. The OES mission is to develop comprehensive employment reentry strategies for individuals with criminal histories.

Planning Cycle: Every two years.

Outcome Measures: Outcome measures include enrollments, completions, job placements, job developments, and employment upgrades to include follow-up at 30, 60, and 90 days.

Funding and Regional Division: Programs are located in correctional facilities, Community Justice Centers, and with Community Service Providers throughout Washington state.

State Funding: $524,000 (July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008) Penalty and Interest Funds; $449,000 (July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008) Wagner-Peyser Funds.

Federal Funding: $298,000. (July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008). The Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board grants federal Carl D. Perkins Funds (1 percent of Title 1) to the Employment Security Department.

Statutory Authority: Federal - Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, P.L. 109-270. Administered by the Employment Security Department.

Update-Program Year 2010: Though still providing programming to Department of Corrections institutions, Offender Employment Services staff have relocated to their nearest WorkSource offices to support the increasing numbers of offenders being released in local communities. This change provides additional programming and services for the ex-offender population served at WorkSource and helps support and train WorkSource staff and our community partners to meet the demand for services.