Program Profile: Prison Industry Enhancement Certificate Program (PIECP)

The program engages persons incarcerated in state prison in private sector jobs (which pay minimum wage or higher), in an effort to increase post-release employment and reduce recidivism. The program is rated Promising. Compared with those who worked in traditional prison industries and participated in other activities such as education and drug treatment, treatment group participants showed a statistically significant increase in post-release employment and a decrease in recidivism rates.

A Promising rating implies that implementing the program may result in the intended outcome(s).

A Promising rating implies that implementing the program may result in the intended outcome(s).

Program Goals

The Prison Industry Enhancement Certificate Program (PIECP) provides persons incarcerated in state prison with private sector jobs to reduce post-release recidivism, improve post-release employability, and improve potential job quality and wages.

Target Population

The targeted population includes minimum- and medium-security prisoners without medical problems who have a reasonably low risk for rule violations. Only those incarcerated in state (and not federal) prisons are eligible for participation in PIECP. Participation in the program is voluntary. Eligibility criteria vary by state or correctional institution, but may include 1) a minimum amount of time without any disciplinary reports, 2) minimum- and medium-security levels, 3) enrollment in or completion of high school or a GED program, 4) a minimum amount of time remaining on a prison sentence (e.g., 6 months), and 5) no major medical problems that would prohibit work.

Program Components

In the PIECP, incarcerated persons produce goods or provide services at minimum wage (or higher) for private sector companies. The work may range from labor-intensive routine tasks (i.e., assembly line) to highly skilled craftsmanship (i.e., sheet metal welding). The program provides them with both “soft” skills (i.e., going to work regularly, getting to work on time, having a positive work attitude) and “hard” skills (i.e., learning a trade or skill such as welding), which increase their chances of finding employment upon their release.

There are three models for operation of a PIECP program: 1) employer, 2) manpower, and 3) customer. In the employer model, private sector firms manage the PIECP inmate population and produce goods for sale in open markets. In the manpower model, incarcerated persons are supervised by the private company, but are considered to be employed by the Department of Correction. Under the employer and manpower models, the incarcerated have regular contact with and are supervised by free world workers, providing them with an employment (rather than correctional) environment during the day. Under the customer model, Departments of Correction operate the PIECP production facilities, manage the workers, and deliver the goods to private firms for sale in open markets.

They participate in PIECP during their incarceration, which typically lasts 1 to 5 years.

Study

Smith and colleagues (2006) used a quasi-experimental design to compare outcomes of Prison Industry Enhancement Certificate Program (PIECP) participants with two matched comparison groups of inmates who participated in traditional prison industries (TI) and other than work (OTW) activities, such as education and drug treatment. The researchers used a cluster-sampling strategy to select five states with large numbers of PIECP workers for participation in the study. The selection process involved ranking U.S. geographic regions, rural and urban populations, gender representation, and PIECP models for inclusion in the study. A total of 6,464 inmates were included in the study.

The treatment group included all inmates released from 46 prisons in the five selected states who worked in PIECP (n = 2,333) and were released between January 1, 1996 and June 30, 2001, which allowed for at least a 2-year follow up and a maximum of 7.5 years. The comparison groups (n = 4,131) included inmates who received TI and OTW and were matched to PIECP participants on six criteria (race, gender, crime type, age, time served, and number of disciplinary reports). The inmates in the sample were 58 percent white, 32 percent Black, 8 percent Hispanic, and 2 percent other races. On average at intake, the sample was 32 years of age, ranging from 18 to over 51 years. Approximately 80 percent of the sample was male and length of incarceration ranged from less than 1 year to 7 years.

The inmates in the treatment group were given employment in private sector jobs. The individuals in the comparison groups were either given jobs in TI (similar to PIECP in terms of work, except that the inmates were not paid a prevailing wage and the production was not sold in open markets) or were involved in other prison activities, in addition to industry work (education or drug treatment). The CrimeSolutions review of this study focused on the differences between the treatment group and the two matched comparison groups combined.

Measures of employment and recidivism were gathered from PIECP automated records and corrections data. Survival analyses were used to compare the treatment and comparison groups on post-release employment and recidivism. No subgroup analyses were conducted.

More information about the Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program can be found on the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) website: https://bja.ojp.gov/program/prison-industry-enhancement-certification-program-piecp/overview 

These sources were used in the development of the program profile:

These sources were used in the development of the program profile:

Cox, Robynn. 2010. “The Effect of the Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program on Labor Market Outcomes of Prison Releases.” Durham, N.C.: Duke University.

Gallagher, Daniel J., and Mary Edwards. 1997. “Prison Industries and the Private Sector.” Atlantic Economic Journal 25(1):91–8.

Hopper, Jeffrey D. 2013. “Benefits of Inmate Employment Programs: Evidence From The Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program.” Journal of Business & Economics Research 11(5):213–21.

Following are CrimeSolutions-rated programs that are related to this practice:

Adult Reentry Programs

This practice involves correctional programs that focus on the transition of individuals from prison into the community. Reentry programs involve treatment or services that have been initiated while the individual is in custody and a follow-up component after the individual is released. The practice is rated Promising for reducing recidivism.

Evidence Ratings for Outcomes

Crime & Delinquency - Multiple crime/offense types

Rehabilitation Programs for Adults Convicted of a Crime

This practice includes programs that are designed to reduce recidivism among adults by improving their behaviors, skills, mental health, social functioning, and access to education and employment. They may become participants in rehabilitation programs during multiple points in their involvement with the criminal justice system. This practice is rated Promising for reducing recidivism among adults who have been convicted of an offense.

Evidence Ratings for Outcomes

Crime & Delinquency - Multiple crime/offense types

Why might a practice's outcome ratings differ from the ratings of specific programs encompassed by that practice?