This technical assistance guide for offender programs is a guidebook to be used by CETA (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) prime sponsors, state manpower service councils, state manpower planning councils, and Department of Labor (DOL) regional staff concerned about offenders and interested in developing employment and training programs for them. There are two parts. Part I contains four chapters that provide background information on (1) past and present DOL offender programs, (2) the offender (statistics on the total offender population, characteristics of the offender, how society views the offender, and DOL offender target groups), (3) CETA and the criminal justice system, and (4) barriers to employment of offenders, particularly efforts to remove legal and attitudinal barriers. Part II is a program reference guide with three chapters: (1) funding, program components, and staffing of CETA programs for offenders, (2) strategic and operational program planning, and (3) program assessment (targets, criteria, cost effectiveness, techniques, etc.). Appendixes contain a three-part bibliography (annotations of selected reference materials, a subject-matter bibliography, and an alphabetical listing of references and resources) and two glossaries (one containing a list of terms and definitions related to the criminal justice system and one of selected "con" language). A cross-referenced index to the guide is also included. (JT)