The Inmate Transition Branch was established in early 2004, integrating the responsibilities of the Inmate Placement and Volunteer Management Branches. The new branch's mission is to strengthen existing and establish new Bureau of Prisons programs that enhance the post release employment of federal prisoners and the use of community, staff and inmate volunteers.
To accomplish its mission, the ITB assists federal correctional institutions to conduct mock job fairs and to establish employment resource centers (ERC). ERC's assist inmates to prepare for job searches and to assemble in, employment folders, all documents required by employers who may hire them. Each of these efforts stress the importance of motivating inmates to focus on their transition to employment, their families and their communities at least 18 months before their expected release dates.
Since its inception in 1996, the IPPB/ITB has assisted in the conduct of approximately 500 job fairs in 107 federal prisons. More than 17,500 men and women inmates and over 7100 company recruiters and representatives from education and other community service agencies have participated. In addition, IPPB/ITB staff, on request, have assisted state prisons, regional jails and federal probation services to hold both real and mock job fairs.
