Final answer:
The risk factor addressed through trades training for inmates is economic opportunity, which is essential for reducing recidivism by improving employment prospects post-release.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of risk factor targeted when an inmate completes a trades training certificate program while incarcerated is economic opportunity. By providing skills that can be utilized in the workforce after release, such programs address the economic challenges that often contribute to recidivism. They aim to alter the cost-benefit calculation that previous offenders may make regarding reoffending. In contexts like Liberia, studies showed that providing targeted interventions such as capital, the prospect of future cash, alongside agricultural training and counseling, could lead to improved outcomes compared to training alone. Furthermore, arts-based programs like theatre practice have been found to equip inmates with valuable social skills, which can play a significant role in reducing recidivism as well. Such programs are designed to instill a sense of self-worth, positive attitudes, and behavioral changes, ultimately leading to reintegration into society and stable employment.