Which intervention effectively addresses unemployment as a criminogenic need?

• A. Job-readiness and transitional employment services.
• B. Longer incarceration.
• C. Increased curfew.
• D. Solely vocational training without job placement.

Answer: (A)

Unemployment is a dynamic risk factor that contributes to criminal behavior by increasing financial pressure and disrupting daily routines that deter crime. The option that combines job-readiness and transitional employment services directly tackles this by equipping individuals with practical work skills—such as resume writing, interviewing, and communication—while also providing real, supported work placements. This dual approach helps people move from training to actual employment, builds work history, and creates ongoing support to maintain jobs, which together reduce the likelihood of returning to crime as a means to earn income. The other options miss the mark because longer incarceration doesn’t address employment needs or real-world reintegration, a stricter curfew doesn’t change job prospects, and vocational training without job placement leaves the key barrier—obtaining and keeping work—unaddressed.