INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 29, 2018) -- Individuals incarcerated
in Indiana prisons got the rare opportunity to search for employment before
their release, by participating in an innovative virtual job fair with six Hoosier
employers.
The Hoosier Initiative for Re-entry program, or HIRE, is a program administered
by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development that helps connect
ex-offenders with job opportunities.
DWD partnered with the Indiana Department of Correction on Aug. 28 to host the
virtual job fair, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the nation.
“It’s tough to get employers to hire folks while incarcerated, but we wanted to
let our in-facility clients know Hoosier employers are willing to give them a
second chance,” said Carrie Heck, DWD’s Re-employment Pathway director who
oversees the HIRE program. “HIRE wants to be proactive in preparing individuals
pre-release so it will be an easier transition into full time, benefitted
positions, earning a livable wage once released.”
Six employers from around
the state participated in the inaugural job fair, including representatives
from another state agency, the Indiana Department of Transportation. Openings are
available in areas such as warehousing, machining, landscaping and production.
A total of 132 inmates
from Plainfield, Rockville, Wabash, Westville and the Correctional Industrial
Facility in Pendleton took part in the job fair.
Up
to 20,000 ex-offenders are released from prison each year in Indiana. Statistics
show that those who remain unemployed for three years following release have a
return rate of up to 60 percent. The numbers go down dramatically for
those who are able to secure employment and stay on the job.
The HIRE program helps reduce the recidivism
rate by matching more than 2,500 ex-offenders annually with nearly 1,000
willing employers.
###
About the Indiana Department of
Workforce Development
DWD
serves the worker and the employer to ensure workplace success. DWD is
committed to innovating and invigorating Indiana’s economic future by providing
WorkOne Career Centers, Unemployment Insurance, Labor Market Information,
Regional Workforce Strategies and Professional Training. Through these
services, DWD is able to develop a premier workforce that enables Indiana
employers to flourish and entices businesses from outside our state to relocate
to Indiana.
|
