OCE’s Work Certification Programs

Every day, in OCE businesses throughout Oregon’s prison system, inmates are gaining work experience, learning new job skills, and preparing for their eventual release into the community.

Over 95% of Oregon’s inmates do, in fact, return to their community. At OCE, we believe our job is not only to provide our customers with great products and services; we are also in the business of producing better citizens for Oregon.

The history of the Oregon prison system has included using inmate labor to meet operational needs, while providing various work and training opportunities for the inmate population.  In keeping with state mandates and national trends, Oregon Corrections Enterprises as part of the Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC), has incorporated training curricula into its work businesses which are designed to develop inmate work skills in preparation for community re-entry.  The emphasis is to maintain OCE manufacturing and service operations, while enabling inmate workers to train using evidence-based practices.

A major element within OCE’s efforts is the Work Skills Certification (WSC) Program and its re-entry component.  The WSC Program is a twelve-month, self study, industry specific curriculum which, upon completion, provides inmate participants with a resume and certificate of completion.  The basic program format is similar to the Job Corps model, which affords inmate participants application into hard (industry specific) and soft (social) skills training.  Satisfactory and timely completion of all curricula requirements, batteries of tests and favorable supervisor evaluation are necessary to receive a certificate in one of two disciplines:  Business or Industrial Technology.  Inmate applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for program participation: 

1. Six months clear conduct
2. No positive urine tests in the preceding twelve months
3. Within six years to a release date
4. Possess a high school diploma, GED certificate, or be in the process of obtaining a GED within a specified period of time
5. Be compliant with all other institution programming

The goal for work and training participation is to build inmates’ confidence and skills in preparation for re-entry into society.  Towards this end, OCE is in the process of developing a database system capable of compiling information on and tracking all OCE inmate workers and program participants.  Additional capabilities will include storing data for training, work, and program participation while in an OCE assignment; and tracking inmates who were assigned to OCE a minimum of twelve months prior to release from prison.  OCE has partnered with DOC in ensuring the thorough planning and development for information sharing and the most effective use of resources in preparing inmates for re-entry.  Most recently, OCE is represented in a variety of community based re-entry committees consisting of state and local community leaders and employers who, in concert with the Governor’s Re-entry Council, develop plans to provide release assistance to inmates.

OCE believes that developing and measuring inmate work skills and attributes is important for future success in the job market. Providing technical skills and reinforcing the value of a positive work ethic is part of the work skills certification program.

As of September 2009, approximately 1,060 inmates participate in OCE work assignments at eight correctional institutions located throughout the State. Of this population, at least 25% are provided the opportunity to become certified in their assigned work program. OCE offers training in two focus areas: business and industrial technology.

Each OCE business has a yearly benchmark to fill 90% of all WSC assignments. This equates to approximately 200 inmates for fiscal year 2008.

In addition to the certification program, OCE has also embarked on a project to review the progress of each OCE-certified inmate upon release. The objective is to provide meaningful data regarding work experience that will help reinforce positive behaviors and increase the chances of post prison inmates finding a living wage job. The objective is to bridge the employment gap between prison and the outside employment world.