NEW HAVEN – Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's Second Chance Society initiative, which he signed into law in July, aims to reduce recidivism.
On Wednesday, in an effort to further diminish Connecticut’s crime rate, which is at a 50-year low, he discussed a federal grant that will now provide job training for those incarcerated in a New Haven jail.
Beginning early next year, the American Job Center will activate inside the New Haven Correctional Center, which will become one of only 12 prisoner employment preparation services in the country.
“We know that whenever we can place someone in their job, it's a lot less likely that they are going to be returning at any time or anytime in the near future,” said Malloy.
The program is specifically designed for the last six months of an incarceration. From resume preparation, to career counseling and interviewing, making inmates job-ready is the goal.
“Some of the most grateful employees in the world are people who got a job coming out of jail,” Malloy said.
This would definitely be true of one inmate, who’s due to be released from the NHCC February 22.
“I'm trying to get a real good job to take care of my kids and my family and be able to not be under so much pressure because I can't pay my rent,” said Bobby Ross, who estimates he has been incarcerated at least six times.
Eighty-five percent of those locked up in the New Haven Correctional Center are from the Elm City, whose federally funded Fresh Start re-entry initiative aims to prepare prisoners up to 12 months before they're released.
“We will be doing an assessment, looking at what their strengths are, looking at where their challenges are, if they need educational or some skills development,” said Dr. Martha Okafor, the New Haven Community Services Administrator.
The biggest challenge: getting employers to buy in and not be afraid.
“There will be wraparound support,” said Okafor. “There will be a coordinator, a key coordinator or job coach who you can call if there are issues.”
Ross said when he’s released this time, he is never going to come back.
“I'm tired of this life,” he said.
The goal of the Fresh Start program is to decrease recidivism by up to 50% in the next five years.
