There is a pressing need to identify new, more effective models for promoting behavior change and reducing recidivism among former prisoners and others who are involved in the justice system. Two distinct approaches – cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and employment are commonly used. Meta-analyses have found that a variety of CBT approaches can lead to reductions in recidivism among both youth and adults. In addition to CBT, many community supervision agencies place a strong emphasis on employment programming, and individuals on probation or parole are often required to seek or maintain employment. The reasons for this are fairly clear. Work provides daily structure, exposes individuals to pro-social routines and peers, and provides a source of legitimate income. Moreover, individuals leaving prison report that finding a job is their most important priority upon reentering the community. Despite the prevalence of employment programming – and the widely-held belief that jobs are an antidote to crime – there is not consistent evidence that employment programs for individuals in the justice system lead to reductions in crime or recidivism. Criminologists argue that programs aiming to reduce recidivism must focus on several primary areas known to be correlated with criminal activity including antisocial attitudes, values and beliefs, lack of self-control, impulsivity, and aggression. Conversely, economists tend to argue that individuals engage in crime because they lack opportunities to obtain income through legal means, therefore interventions must increase economic opportunities, such as employment, in order to reduce crime. This panel will feature views from these distinct perspectives and bridge them with the introduction of a promising new CBT program for young offenders that is specially designed to operate in a transitional jobs (TJ) program. The panel of presenters will describe the basis for the integrated model that is supported by evidence from recent rigorous evaluation research. This panel will include four presentations describing the latest evaluation research on transitional jobs programs and conclusions about how this research informs the development of enhanced and integrated employment interventions designed to reduce recidivism among those involved in the criminal justice system. In addition to presentations from two researchers offering different perspectives on evaluation findings from recent transitional jobs studies, there will be a presentation by the University of Cincinnati’s Corrections Institute describing a new, innovative curriculum designed to integrate CBT and employment interventions. The panel will feature two discussants: Sam Schaeffer, Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Employment Opportunities, who will respond to the panel from a practitioner perspective, and David D’Amora, Division Director from the Council of State Governments who will bring a policy perspective to the discussion.