A Study on the Impacts of Prison Vocational Training Program on Parolees’ Employment

　　Many studies indicate that employment situation of ex-offenders or parolees is a key recidivism factors. Ex-offender or parolees can acquire job skills via participating the vocational training program in prison, the program can also cultivate human capital of ex-offender. With this training program, ex-offender or parolees can successfully find a stable job after release from prison. Employment of ex-offender or parolees can reduce recidivism and social cost. However, the government of Taiwan and our society don’t take this issue seriously. There is few evaluation and studies of such program in Taiwan. Consequently, it is important to recognize the effectiveness and predicament of the vocational training program in prison in Taiwan. 　　This study used quantitative and qualitative methods that focus on the impacts of the vocational training program in prison on employment of parolees and the effectiveness and predicament of this vocational training program. We used chi-square distribution to test the correlation between the vocational training program in prison and quantifiable indexes of employment. Moreover, we interviewed the stakeholders of vocational training program in prison to further investigate the impact of the vocational training program in prison on employment of parolees. We also looked into execution of the vocational training program in prison by interviews. The results indicate that the vocational training program in prison can make a positive impact on employment of parolees. It helps parolees acquire basic working ability and cultivate a positive attitude towards employment. This program can provide professional training and self-affirmation of parolees. The predicaments of the program are lack of quota and elasticity of courses. To solve these problems, we suggest that the government should pay more attention to this issue and invest more resources on improving the quality of professional training program. To go a step further, government can build a communication platform in order to improve cooperation between different sectors. We also suggest that government should modify the laws to increase elasticity of executing the training program. Furthermore, the government should eliminate employment barriers that ex-offenders or parolees might face after returning to society.