The Second Chance Project: Creative Approaches to Developing the Talents of At‐Risk Native Inmates

This study compared the recidivism rate of two groups of Native Canadian inmates. The experimental group of offenders received intensive pre‐release support, including counseling, training in Creative Problem Solving, career awareness sessions (including résumé writing, interviewing, and impression management), and on‐the‐job experience. Inmates in the control group received no such support; at sentences' end, they were simply released into society to fend for themselves. The results indicated that recidivism can be reduced by a meaningful support program. Individuals in the experimental group were much less likely to re‐offend than those in the untreated control group.