Ministry of Justice

Improving employment interventions

Date: 20 May 2008

Workers painting

A study evaluating the impact of the second phase of the Pathfinder project, which aimed at improving the effectiveness of getting offenders into work as a means of reducing reoffending.


The aim of this study was to evaluate a Pathfinder project which was intended to improve the effectiveness of employment work undertaken with offenders.

The project, the Employment Pathfinder Phase 2, operated in seven probation areas and built upon an earlier Phase 1 project set in two probation areas.

The key issues addressed in the evaluation of Phase 2 were:

  • whether there were any remaining implementation and operational issues associated with the Pathfinder
  • whether data collection problems which had beset the earlier Pathfinder had been resolved
  • whether it was now possible to assess the impact of the scheme in terms of education, training and employment outcomes.

The evaluation drew upon a range of information including a centrally maintained database, local records, interviews with those making referrals to and providing education, training and employment assistance, and interviews with offenders receiving such assistance.