Provided throughout the fourteen county East Texas area, Project RIO (Reintegration of Offenders) is a federally funded program that offers employment and training services to individuals who have been placed within the criminal justice system.  The project provides a link between education, training and employment during incarceration with employment, training and education after release.

The program is designed to reduce recidivism through employment. Numerous studies have shown reduced recidivism rates for employed ex-offenders. Even when one takes into account other factors such as age, risk score, race/ethnicity and type of previous offense, post-release employment reduced re-arrests and re-incarcerations.  Most recently, a three-year longitudinal study performed by the Texas Workforce Commission showed the rate of recidivism for those who had not used Project RIO services were twenty-five percent more likely to be re-incarcerated, compared to only six-percent of those who had accessed Project RIO services.

Program participants may be offenders released from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (this includes parolees and non-parolees), juvenile offenders, aged 21 or under, released from Texas Youth Commission facilities and individuals confined in Texas Substance Abuse Felon Punishment facilities. Offenders released from Texas State Jail Facilities and TDCJ offenders must enroll in services within 12 months of their release date. All applicants for services must be actively seeking work, drug free, and have no outstanding warrants. Offenders in the process of parole revocation are not eligible.

Post-employment services which include job retention, career advancement, and reemployment services are offered to eligible customers who have obtained employment but require additional assistance to achieve self-sufficiency. Appropriate services will be determined by the Career Coach based on an ongoing assessment of the individual’s progress toward achieving goals. Post-employment services may include:

  • Extended case management
  • Services for job retention
  • Training programs for career advancement
  • Support services (childcare, transportation, work-related expenses)
  • Re-employment services such as job search, job development, and referrals

Services are offered to program participants pre and post-release. An individualized treatment plan is developed to identify a career path for the offender and to guide placement decisions.