Francina CarterFrancina CarterNational Institute of CorrectionsNational Institute of Corrections

Offender Offender Workforce Workforce Development: Development: Providing a Second Providing a Second Chance Chance

WelcomeWelcome

• Who are we?Who are we?• Where do we come Where do we come

from? from? • Why are we here?Why are we here?• What do we hope to What do we hope to

learn?learn?

National Institute of CorrectionsNational Institute of Corrections

• U.S. Department of JusticeU.S. Department of Justice• Federal Bureau of PrisonsFederal Bureau of Prisons

• NIC is a federal agency NIC is a federal agency created in 1974 as a center created in 1974 as a center of correctional knowledge to of correctional knowledge to provide leadership and provide leadership and assistance to the field of assistance to the field of corrections. corrections.

• In 2008, 1 in every 99.1 adults was In 2008, 1 in every 99.1 adults was behind bars in Americabehind bars in America

• More than 1.5 million were in state or More than 1.5 million were in state or federal prisonsfederal prisons

• More than 700,00 were in local jails More than 700,00 were in local jails

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1 in 1001 in 100

• In addition, over 4.2 million were on In addition, over 4.2 million were on probationprobation

• Over 800,000 were on paroleOver 800,000 were on parole

• In total, over 7.3 million adults were In total, over 7.3 million adults were under some form of correctional control, under some form of correctional control, a ratio of 1 in 31a ratio of 1 in 31

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1 in 311 in 31

The Criminal Justice System TodayThe Criminal Justice System Today

• After sharp increases in the 1980s and 1990s, the After sharp increases in the 1980s and 1990s, the incarceration rate has recently grown at a slower incarceration rate has recently grown at a slower

pace.pace.

• Annually, approximately 750,000 are Annually, approximately 750,000 are released from state and federal prisonsreleased from state and federal prisons

• Over 9 million are released from local Over 9 million are released from local jailsjails

• 95% of all offenders will return to their 95% of all offenders will return to their communities communities

Offender ReentryOffender Reentry

What works and what does not: evidenced based What works and what does not: evidenced based principles, organizational development, and principles, organizational development, and

collaborationcollaboration

• In preparing for careers, clients should In preparing for careers, clients should consider employment restrictions based consider employment restrictions based on:on:• Nature of crimeNature of crime• Length of time since convictionLength of time since conviction• Occupational barsOccupational bars• Licensure requirementsLicensure requirements

• Check with state’s Office of the Attorney Check with state’s Office of the Attorney GeneralGeneral

Employment Restrictions Employment Restrictions

Employment RequirementsEmployment Requirements

• A client on probation or parole may A client on probation or parole may have additional requirements:have additional requirements:• Office visitsOffice visits• Telephone accessTelephone access• Drug testingDrug testing• Site visitsSite visits• ViolationsViolations

• Be familiar with the client’s criminal historyBe familiar with the client’s criminal history• Clients should obtain a copy of their Clients should obtain a copy of their

Record of Arrest and Prosecution (RAP) to:Record of Arrest and Prosecution (RAP) to:• Check for accuracyCheck for accuracy• See what employers will see in a background See what employers will see in a background

checkcheck• Obtain from state’s Criminal Records Obtain from state’s Criminal Records

Repository Repository

Record of Arrest and ProsecutionRecord of Arrest and Prosecution

• It is important to explore career options It is important to explore career options with:with:• JuvenilesJuveniles• Clients with limited work historyClients with limited work history• Clients who can no longer work in their Clients who can no longer work in their

field due to their criminal recordfield due to their criminal record

Career ExplorationCareer Exploration

• Developing resumesDeveloping resumes• Functional vs chronologicalFunctional vs chronological

• Completing job applicationsCompleting job applications• Using a letter of explanationUsing a letter of explanation

• Preparing for the interviewPreparing for the interview• Role playing the incarceration speechRole playing the incarceration speech

Job ReadinessJob Readiness

Job PlacementJob Placement

• Match client’s interests and skills to jobs Match client’s interests and skills to jobs that meet legal and supervision that meet legal and supervision requirementsrequirements

• Encourage entry level positions that Encourage entry level positions that match career interestsmatch career interests

• Coach clients about employer Coach clients about employer incentives:incentives:• Work Opportunity Tax CreditWork Opportunity Tax Credit• Federal Bonding ProgramFederal Bonding Program

Employer IncentivesEmployer Incentives

THE McLAUGHLIN COMPANY • 1725 DeSales Street NW • Suite 700 • Washington DC 20036 PHONE: 800.233.2258 or 202.293.5566

An incentive to the employer to hire an at-risk job applicant, An incentive to the employer to hire an at-risk job applicant, including ex-offendersincluding ex-offenders

Insurance to protect employer against employee dishonestyInsurance to protect employer against employee dishonesty Covers any type of stealing: theft, forgery, larceny, and Covers any type of stealing: theft, forgery, larceny, and embezzlement embezzlement

The bond insurance issued ranges from $5,000 to $25,000 The bond insurance issued ranges from $5,000 to $25,000 coverage for a 6-month periodcoverage for a 6-month period

Work Opportunity Tax CreditWork Opportunity Tax Credit

• A federal tax credit that reduces an employer’s tax liability for A federal tax credit that reduces an employer’s tax liability for hiring an individual in one of twelve targeted categories, hiring an individual in one of twelve targeted categories, including ex-felonincluding ex-felon

• Ex-felon--an individual who was convicted of a felony and who Ex-felon--an individual who was convicted of a felony and who is hired not more than one year after the conviction or release is hired not more than one year after the conviction or release from prison from prison

• $2,400 tax credit for each new adult hire$2,400 tax credit for each new adult hire

• $1,200 tax credit for each new summer youth hire$1,200 tax credit for each new summer youth hire

Basic Principles Underlying Facilitation Basic Principles Underlying Facilitation SkillsSkills

• AcceptanceAcceptance

• RespectRespect

• UnderstandingUnderstanding

• EmpathyEmpathy

• TrustTrust

• GenuinenessGenuineness

Facilitation SkillsFacilitation Skills

• Attending Attending

• Questioning Questioning

• ClarifyingClarifying

• ReflectingReflecting

• EncouragingEncouraging

Facilitation SkillsFacilitation Skills

• Setting expectationsSetting expectations

• Honoring confidentialityHonoring confidentiality

What’s in Your Career Development What’s in Your Career Development Professional’s Toolbox?Professional’s Toolbox?

• Career AssessmentsCareer Assessments• Professional NetworkProfessional Network• Community Resource GuideCommunity Resource Guide• Labor Market InformationLabor Market Information• Employer ContactsEmployer Contacts• Education and Training ResourcesEducation and Training Resources• YOU!YOU!

Offender Barriers Offender Barriers

• InternalInternal• Self conceptSelf concept• Self knowledgeSelf knowledge• Self efficacySelf efficacy• Locus of ControlLocus of Control• Beliefs and attitudesBeliefs and attitudes• Planning and decision Planning and decision

making skillsmaking skills

• ExternalExternal• Family issuesFamily issues• Offender issuesOffender issues• TransportationTransportation• HousingHousing• Education and trainingEducation and training• Employment historyEmployment history• Addiction issuesAddiction issues• Mental health issuesMental health issues

OES: Building BridgesOES: Building Bridges

• Introductory level trainingIntroductory level training

• Promotes collaborationPromotes collaboration• CorrectionsCorrections• Community supervisionCommunity supervision• Community agenciesCommunity agencies• One-Stop servicesOne-Stop services

• Range of practitioner roles Range of practitioner roles

Curriculum Design and DeliveryCurriculum Design and Delivery

• Ease in facilitation using video content and OES Ease in facilitation using video content and OES Guide Book with activities and discussion questionsGuide Book with activities and discussion questions

• Flexible delivery schedule can be tailored to fit Flexible delivery schedule can be tailored to fit audience and training needsaudience and training needs

• Cost effective training requirementsCost effective training requirements• Facilitators/guest speakersFacilitators/guest speakers• Training facilityTraining facility• Printed curriculum materialsPrinted curriculum materials• AV equipmentAV equipment

OES Curriculum ComponentsOES Curriculum Components

• OES Introduction-a brief video overview of training OES Introduction-a brief video overview of training that can be used for marketingthat can be used for marketing

• OES Facilitator Training-a step-by-step process on OES Facilitator Training-a step-by-step process on video designed to train facilitatorsvideo designed to train facilitators

• OES Guide Book-training curriculum that includes OES Guide Book-training curriculum that includes activities and discussion questionsactivities and discussion questions

• OES Curriculum-DVD’s with over 5 ½ hours of OES Curriculum-DVD’s with over 5 ½ hours of contentcontent

OES ModelOES Model

• Key ProcessesKey Processes• CapacityCapacity• OpportunityOpportunity• MotivationMotivation

• Key playersKey players• PractitionersPractitioners• EmployersEmployers• OffenderOffender

Transition IssuesTransition Issues

• Decision-makingDecision-making

• Transition from structured Transition from structured environmentenvironment

• Lack of opportunity for decision-Lack of opportunity for decision-makingmaking

• Cognitive skills trainingCognitive skills training

Transition IssuesTransition Issues

• Legal financial obligationsLegal financial obligations• Fines, restitutionFines, restitution• Supervision feesSupervision fees• Child supportChild support• Health and Human Services – Health and Human Services –

Office of Child Support Office of Child Support EnforcementEnforcement

Transition and Planning ToolsTransition and Planning Tools

Development of an action planDevelopment of an action plan

• Long-term goalsLong-term goals• Short-term goalsShort-term goals• Mini-stepsMini-steps• Positive reinforcementPositive reinforcement

Transition and Planning ToolsTransition and Planning Tools

Using Nancy Schlossberg’s 4-Step ModelUsing Nancy Schlossberg’s 4-Step Model

Take stock of the Take stock of the situationsituationTake stock of the Take stock of the self-characteristicsself-characteristicsTake stock of Take stock of supportssupportsTake charge with a Take charge with a strategystrategy

Tips on working with persons Tips on working with persons who have criminal convictionswho have criminal convictions

• Firm, fair and consistentFirm, fair and consistent

• Friendly, but not friendsFriendly, but not friends

• Offer hopeOffer hope

• Positive incentivesPositive incentives

• Clear informationClear information

• Be aware that they may be juggling Be aware that they may be juggling competing demandscompeting demands

Tips on working with persons Tips on working with persons who have criminal convictionswho have criminal convictions

• Reinforce careersReinforce careers• Look at transferable skillsLook at transferable skills• Provide guidance on budgetingProvide guidance on budgeting• Provide assistance with gathering Provide assistance with gathering

necessary documentsnecessary documents• Provide mentorsProvide mentors• Encourage peer support through AA or Encourage peer support through AA or

NANA

Tips on working with persons Tips on working with persons who have criminal convictionswho have criminal convictions

• Collaborate! Develop resources to Collaborate! Develop resources to meet needsmeet needs

• Keep abreast of changes in the fieldKeep abreast of changes in the field

Career Resource CentersCareer Resource Centers

Online Job ApplicationOnline Job Application

Labor Market InformationLabor Market Information

• National Institute of CorrectionsNational Institute of Corrections

• www.nicic.gov/owd

• National HIRE NetworkNational HIRE Network

• www.hirenetwork.org/resource.html

• National Reentry Resource CenterNational Reentry Resource Center

• www.nationalreentryresourcecenter.org

WebsitesWebsites