UWork Student-Assisted Reentry Program: An Exploratory Study

A valuable goal for correctional settings is the application of workforce development education for incarcerated individuals as they prepare for the reentry process. Exploring the transitional bridge from prison to society signifies the need for “employment skills” that empower the formerly incarcerated to achieve employment success and avoid recidivism. The U-Work Program student volunteers teach reentry classes focused on workplace employment skills, including financial literacy, communications, resume writing, interviewing, and technology. This article showcases the themes that emerged from incarcerees’ responses in an exploratory study of the U-Work Program at a low-security federal facility in the Northeast, illustrating the importance of workforce development education in the reentry process.