An empirical research on the young offenders competencies to facilitate employability opportunities

The present research is one of the intellectual output of the ILA Employability project (Innovative Learning Approaches in Staff Training and Young Offenders' Employability Support). In this paper, we will provide the main results of an empirical research regarding the skills and the capabilities that young offenders can develop during their stay in the prison, in order to foster the social integration after their release and to reduce the risk factors to criminality. The research was carried out through a mix method approach, based on the use of quantitative and qualitative techniques. More specifically, a structured questionnaire was administered to 364 young offenders and 6 focus groups were organized in the detention centres of Romania, Spain and Cyprus. Keywords: employability skills, mix method, social inclusion, young offenders.