Community employment services

When released into the community, finding employment can be a challenge if offenders do not have the right skills, support and services. Community Employment Services (CES) provide employment interventions and services to offenders under Correctional Service Canada's (CSC's) supervision in the community, including connecting them with other resources. This support increases the likelihood of the offender's safe and successful reintegration.

The support an offender receives does not stop when they get a job. CES is available to provide additional interventions and services to offenders:

• while they are employed
• if they become unemployed again while under supervision

Assessing offender needs

When an offender arrives at a federal institution, they undergo an intake assessment. During this process, CSC assesses their employment and education needs. These needs are then incorporated into the offender's correctional plan. This plan:

• follows the offender through their incarceration and into the community
• is reassessed and updated as needed

CD 705-6: Correctional Planning and Criminal Profile provides more information about correctional planning in CSC.

Employment reduces the risk of reoffending

Research shows that employment relates directly to offender success. This is true for all groups of offenders, both within the institution and under community supervision. After release, offenders who get and keep employment in the community are more than three times less likely to return to custody.

CSC research: Review various research reports to learn more about the connection between employment and reduced risk of reoffending.

Role of employment coordinators

To work with offenders in the community, CES includes:

• employment coordinators
• employment services contracts, and
• referrals to other government department services and programs

The employment coordinators:

• connect offenders with community-based employment and training programs and services
• contribute to the creation of pro-social, community support networks for offenders
• support offenders to make them job-ready by identifying services to help them with:
  • resume writing
  • developing job interview skills
  • identifying job search tools, etc.
  • getting necessary identification
• dispel myths concerning the hiring of offenders through communication with employers willing to hire offenders
• increasing awareness and understanding of the untapped pool of skilled offender labour
• provide a resource for employers to address community labour shortages through referrals to job opportunities

Community industries

CORCAN Community Industries provide offenders under community supervision with opportunities through:

• on the job training
• vocational training
• transitional employment

These sites provide an interim for offenders that are not able to get regular community employment immediately on release or if they become unemployed while under CSC supervision. Furthermore, CORCAN Community Industries present partnership opportunities for clients, employers and Indigenous communities to meet their needs.

Employment and employability program

The CSC Employment and Employability Program is linked to skills and knowledge needed in the Canadian labour market in seven of nine recognized national occupational codes and providing general and specific skill sets.

There are many benefits of the program:

• research indicates that offenders with a vocational certificate are more likely to find employment in the community
• some vocational certifications may also earn Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) credits toward secondary school diploma
  • in partnership with CSC's education department and provincial ministries of education
  • where approved by the applicable Ministry of Education
• earning certified apprenticeship hours toward a recognized trade
  • where approved by the applicable apprenticeship board
• making a social reinvestment to help individuals with barriers to employment build skills, acquire and maintain employment in the community

For more information

CORCAN Community Employment Services can help employers fill their employee needs with referrals from the program.

For more information about getting referrals of individuals to work for your company, please contact:

• ces-sec.gen-nhq@csc-scc.gc.ca

Or for specific locations contact:

• Alberta: prairieseep-ab.gen-corcan@csc-scc.gc.ca
• Atlantic: gen-corcan atlantic eep@csc-scc.gc.ca
• Manitoba and Saskatchewan: prairieseep-mbsk.gen-corcan@csc-scc.gc.ca
• Ontario: gen-corcan ontation eep@csc-scc.gc.ca
• Pacific: gen-corcan pacific eep@csc-scc.gc.ca
• Quebec: gen-corcan quebec eep@csc-scc.gc.ca

CORCAN continually seeks partnerships and new clients to ensure continued skills training opportunities. For more information on CORCAN's program, products and services visit:

• www.CORCAN.ca