Looking to grant someone a second chance? Here’s how to help

Seven.

Every week, seven formerly incarcerated individuals return to Manatee County from state prison. That’s 364 a year and approximately 70 percent don’t have work lined up upon release.

The 30 percent who do have a job lined up typically return to a previous employer, family business or street business.

Herein lies the problem: The small number of “second-chance” employers cannot keep up with the job demand for the 70 percent.

Our team member Ben Vanderneck has been volunteering with Project 180 since 2013. Project 180 is a local organization that seeks to break the cycle where 76 percent of formerly incarcerated individuals return to prison. They provide workforce education and financial literacy classes for inmates as well as raise awareness and educate the public on ways to help.

Vanderneck joins Project 180 four times a year to visit local prisons to participate in the CEO Workforce Education Program. This program is essential for inmates to learn how to find, apply for, interview for and retain a job. CEOs and hiring managers are involved in this program as well, and they give practical advice and helpful hints on getting back into the workforce and tools to build a successful life.

I spoke with Barbara Richards, the CEO and founder of Project 180, about one of the biggest challenges when it comes to re-integrating folks back into the workforce.

“We need to get more CEOs to come with us to the prisons and speak with the inmates,” Richards said. “Only then will employers start to feel more comfortable with hiring someone who is justice-involved. These individuals leaving prison are not monsters. They made a bad choice, paid for their crimes and now it’s time to get them back into the community.

“When people come out of prison, many have the skills; they just need some assistance in transferring them to a job. They’ve learned customer-service skills, quality control, supply and demand, and some have even managed large numbers of people.”

Most inmates wish to become law-abiding citizens and have the best intention of living a conventional life yet have few job skills, lack a formal education, and experience discrimination in housing and job markets because of their felony records. Employment is difficult for anyone to find these days, so it’s even harder for someone with a criminal record.

Businesses ask, “How can I hire someone with a criminal record?” Or, “What do I do if I want to give someone a second chance?”

Easy. Get in touch with Richards at Project 180 (ceo@project180reentry.org) and she will connect you with the regional contact for the Department of Corrections who works directly with employers. Better yet, get involved with the CEO Workforce Education Program and take advantage of the opportunity to meet with inmates face-to-face.

Richards told me about a call center that hired several formerly incarcerated individuals.

“They were looking for people with sales experience,” Richards said. “Some of the candidates they were interested in had experience selling on the streets and the company could help them transfer their skills to its industry. Some of the best people they hired came out of the justice system.”

Are you willing to give someone a second chance?

This story was originally published August 27, 2017 at 8:35 AM with the headline "Looking to grant someone a second chance? Here’s how to help."