Person Centered Language 8 Apr 2021 9:09 AM (3 years ago)
Language around us is changing all time. Language about those who have been arrested and incarcerated is also now changing. To that end, I will be working on going through this blog to make those necessary changes in order to offer respect to others. Your patience is appreciated.
Here is an interesting article about this: Words Matter
Expungement News! 25 Jun 2018 5:09 PM (6 years ago)
I was excited to read today about how the State of Wisconsin is going to look at its expungement laws and how changing them will affect the lives of those with criminal records. This may be a great step forward for our state! I hope that decision-makers can keep their eyes on what is truly important - the fact that when one has served his/her time, there should no longer be things standing in the way of him/her moving their lives forward in a productive way. My fear is that decision-makers are going to focus too much on how the courts might get bogged down with this rather than actually think outside the box and simplify the whole process. Crossing my fingers for good news...
More about what Wisconsin is doing can be found here: https://publicpolicyforum.org/sites/default/files/FreshStart_FullReport.pdf
or the press release:
https://publicpolicyforum.org/sites/default/files/FreshStart_MediaRelease.pdf
More about what Wisconsin is doing can be found here: https://publicpolicyforum.org/sites/default/files/FreshStart_FullReport.pdf
or the press release:
https://publicpolicyforum.org/sites/default/files/FreshStart_MediaRelease.pdf
Mental Health and Violence 20 Feb 2018 4:51 PM (7 years ago)
So frustrating watching the media and others blow mental health issues out of proportion and also mislead the general public. Most people with mental health disorders are not violent people. In fact, Mentalhealth.gov says that "The vast majority of people with mental health problems are no more likely to be violent than anyone else. Most people with mental illness are not violent and only 3%–5% of violent acts can be attributed to individuals living with a serious mental illness. In fact, people with severe mental illnesses are over 10 times more likely to be victims of violent crime than the general population."
Let's work together to break the stigma of mental health. Let's make sure we are doing all we can to be healthy ourselves, and to educate others about the realities of living with a mental health disorder.
I recently finished Keith O'Neil's book, Under My Helmet. A great read and a great way to get started on this issue!
Let's work together to break the stigma of mental health. Let's make sure we are doing all we can to be healthy ourselves, and to educate others about the realities of living with a mental health disorder.
I recently finished Keith O'Neil's book, Under My Helmet. A great read and a great way to get started on this issue!
What Are You Doing? 29 Oct 2017 1:24 PM (7 years ago)
Greetings! It's fall and fall symbolizes a time for change. So thinking about change, wanted to put out the question, what are you doing?
What are you thinking about and what changes do you need to make in your life to take it to the next level? Do you need to start doing something or stop doing something that is affecting your success or productivity? Today is a great day to take inventory. You could start by making a list of what is working in your life right now. Then take a moment to celebrate your successes! Yes, do it!! You deserve to feel good about what is working well in your life. Then, make a list of what is not working so well. Beside each one, write a possible change or solution to that concern. But don't stop there, now figure out how to implement that change. Seek help or an accountability partner if you need to and don't stop working on the concern until you are satisfied with the change you have made.
We all need to take inventory from time to time. Life is a work in progress and each one of us is either moving forward or staying stuck where we are. Don't stay stuck. Don't settle. Keep working every day to become a better you. You deserve it and so do the ones you love!!
What are you thinking about and what changes do you need to make in your life to take it to the next level? Do you need to start doing something or stop doing something that is affecting your success or productivity? Today is a great day to take inventory. You could start by making a list of what is working in your life right now. Then take a moment to celebrate your successes! Yes, do it!! You deserve to feel good about what is working well in your life. Then, make a list of what is not working so well. Beside each one, write a possible change or solution to that concern. But don't stop there, now figure out how to implement that change. Seek help or an accountability partner if you need to and don't stop working on the concern until you are satisfied with the change you have made.
We all need to take inventory from time to time. Life is a work in progress and each one of us is either moving forward or staying stuck where we are. Don't stay stuck. Don't settle. Keep working every day to become a better you. You deserve it and so do the ones you love!!
Great Read - a True Story That Offers Hope 19 Feb 2017 8:46 AM (8 years ago)
I got a copy of Shaka Senghor's book, Writing my Wrongs, for Christmas. I just could not put it down! What an amazing and insightful story of his journey into the drug trade, incarceration, faith, hope, and redemption. I highly recommend reading his book, listening to his Ted Talk, and going to his website to learn more.
Helping Others 19 Feb 2017 8:06 AM (8 years ago)
Sometimes the realities of dealing with a loved one who is incarcerated or watching what is happening to those around us can be overwhelming. There are many organizations out there who can offer help and hope. The internet is full of resources, as well as local non-profits and faith-based organizations. Reach out today.
Bravo, Los Angeles! 23 Jun 2016 10:23 AM (8 years ago)
It's great to see that the city of Los Angeles gets it. Perhaps more cities around the country could follow suit.
Check out the story Los Angeles to Give Formerly Incarcerated a Second Chance...
Check out the story Los Angeles to Give Formerly Incarcerated a Second Chance...
Re-entry, Criminal Justice Reform, and Voting 23 Mar 2016 5:21 AM (8 years ago)
Re-entry and criminal justice reform must be a priority in this presidential race. Here is just a smattering of things to get you thinking.
http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/video/2016-candidates-criminal-justice-reform-30771075
http://chicagodefender.com/2016/03/13/call-on-presidential-candidates-to-make-re-entry-a-priority/
http://www.prisonpath.com/dear-presidential-candidates-democrat-republican/
https://www.themarshallproject.org/2016/01/15/where-the-democratic-presidential-candidates-stand-on-criminal-justice#.EjsEmWWwj
http://www.businessinsider.com/how-2016-candidates-want-to-reform-criminal-justice-2015-4
Your vote in the upcoming elections matters!! Not voting is the same as voting. Make it count for what you believe.
http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/video/2016-candidates-criminal-justice-reform-30771075
http://chicagodefender.com/2016/03/13/call-on-presidential-candidates-to-make-re-entry-a-priority/
http://www.prisonpath.com/dear-presidential-candidates-democrat-republican/
https://www.themarshallproject.org/2016/01/15/where-the-democratic-presidential-candidates-stand-on-criminal-justice#.EjsEmWWwj
http://www.businessinsider.com/how-2016-candidates-want-to-reform-criminal-justice-2015-4
Your vote in the upcoming elections matters!! Not voting is the same as voting. Make it count for what you believe.
Great news! I am so pleased that things are getting better for folks with criminal records. Check this out!!
Individuals with Criminal Records Could Receive ‘Fair Chance’ at Employment with New Legislation
https://csgjusticecenter.org/jc/announcements/individuals-with-criminal-records-could-receive-fair-chance-at-employment-with-new-legislation/?utm_source=CSG+Justice+Center+Primary+List&utm_campaign=2cda3651e1-9_23_15_NRRC_Newsletter9_21_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_db9d88bcfb-2cda3651e1-42280953&mc_cid=2cda3651e1&mc_eid=9499263aa8
Individuals with Criminal Records Could Receive ‘Fair Chance’ at Employment with New Legislation
https://csgjusticecenter.org/jc/announcements/individuals-with-criminal-records-could-receive-fair-chance-at-employment-with-new-legislation/?utm_source=CSG+Justice+Center+Primary+List&utm_campaign=2cda3651e1-9_23_15_NRRC_Newsletter9_21_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_db9d88bcfb-2cda3651e1-42280953&mc_cid=2cda3651e1&mc_eid=9499263aa8
A Better Way to Fight Recidivism 22 Apr 2015 6:04 AM (9 years ago)
Set
a man up for a modicum of success, and he might just make a better life for
himself.
CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO READ THE REST OF THIS VALUABLE ARTICLE BY
As many as two-thirds of the 650,000
inmates released from prisons and jails in the United States each year will be
re-arrested within three years. America Works is trying to change that.
A new report from the Manhattan
Institute looks at AW’s successful approach, which centers around providing
more “enhanced job-readiness training and job-search assistance” to nonviolent
offenders than the typical re-entry program does. If the welfare-reform
successes of the ’90s taught us anything, it’s that the best welfare program is
a job. By rapidly attaching such offenders to work, AW aims to minimize the
chance that they’ll re-offend later.
As the report puts it: America
Works is condensed into an intense one- or two-week period. It uses a
tough-love approach, stressing interpersonal communication and such “soft”
skills as time and anger management. It places special attention on teaching
practical skills that many former inmates never acquired, such as résumé
preparation, search strategies, and interview techniques. And it uses a network
of employers, who are open to hiring ex-offenders and with whom it has
long-term relationships, to place clients. Its goal is not only to help former
inmates find jobs but also to keep jobs, and it provides follow-up services for
six months. In 2005, the program provided job-readiness classes to 1,000
ex-offenders, placing 700 in jobs.
CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO READ THE REST OF THIS VALUABLE ARTICLE BY
— Kathryn Jean Lopez - senior
fellow at the National Review Institute, editor-at-large of National Review
Online, and founding director of Catholic Voices USA.
States Ban the Box: Removing Barriers to Work for People with Criminal Records 6 Mar 2015 9:15 AM (10 years ago)
Borrowed from http://csgjusticecenter.org/reentry/posts/states-ban-the-box-removing-barriers-to-work-for-people-with-criminal-records-2/
By Liam Julian
Around 65 million Americans of working age have criminal records. Finding a job isn’t easy for anyone, but it’s especially difficult for them. Sometimes, formerly incarcerated individuals simply lack the knowledge and skills that would make them employable; other times, they are barred from filling certain jobs by federal or state laws. But in many instances, employers simply are reluctant to hire people with criminal records and eliminate such applicants from consideration before even reviewing their qualifications.
“The question for me,” said Nebraska state Sen. Bill Avery, “was why go to the expense and effort of preparing prisoners for jobs on the outside when we have barriers that impede their ability to even be considered for employment. ‘Ban the Box’ was an important effort to remove one of those barriers.”
“Ban the Box.” It’s a catchy phrase describing a national political movement that seeks to ensure job applicants with criminal records can show a potential employer their qualifications before revealing their criminal histories. “Box” refers to the job application checkbox that people with criminal records are asked to tick.
The first state to pass such a law was Hawaii, which removed questions about criminal history from job applications for both public and private positions in 1998. But the phrase “Ban the Box” didn’t appear until years later, in the early 2000s, when the activist group All of Us or None used the term to describe its California-based campaign. The slogan caught on, and Ban the Box is now recognized shorthand for the movement behind an array of state and local legislation, ordinances and orders.
Thirteen states and the District of Columbia have passed Ban the Box legislation, according to Michelle Natividad Rodriguez of the National Employment Law Project, which supports Ban the Box. Some 70 cities and counties have effectively done the same.
Six states and the District of Columbia—as well as several cities, such as Baltimore, Newark, N.J., and San Francisco—have, like Hawaii, applied Ban the Box to private employers as well as public ones. In fact, some private businesses like Walmart and Target have voluntarily removed questions about criminal history from their job applications nationwide.
The belief undergirding all Ban the Box laws is much the same—that steady employment for people with criminal records is a fundamental part of those individuals’ successful reintegration into society. When individuals with criminal records can’t find work, it doesn’t affect only them. It negatively affects entire communities. A study by the Philadelphia Economy League found that the employment of formerly incarcerated individuals has a significant positive impact on tax revenues. The Center for Economic and Policy Research, in a 2010 report, found that unemployment rates among ex-offenders costs the economy about $60 billion a year in lost productivity and lowered output of goods and services.
According to Dickinson, some disagreement with this legislation stemmed from misconceptions. Certain critics, he said, believed the law “would require those with conviction histories to be hired.” Others believed it “would put vulnerable populations, like children, in harm’s way.”
But since Assembly Bill 218 became law and its provisions have been clarified, some critics have softened their positions.
Faith Conley, the California State Association of Counties’ legislative representative for employee relations, said now that Brown has signed the legislation, counties “are eagerly implementing the new (Ban the Box) policy. “We believe we can both implement the new policy and also protect public safety and security,” she said.
In Georgia, Ban the Box is set to become law by executive order. The state’s Criminal Justice Reform Council earlier this year recommended Georgia remove questions about criminal history from state agency job application forms and “instead require that the applicant disclose any criminal history during a face-to-face interview.” Gov. Nathan Deal intends to issue an executive order reflecting that recommendation, and will do so likely before the General Assembly reconvenes in January, according to Sasha Dlugolenski, a press aide for the governor.
In Indianapolis, for example, the city council in January passed an ordi- nance mandating that city and county agencies and their contractors not ask job applicants about criminal history until later interviews. Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard strongly supports Ban the Box. “Re-entry has been one of the mayor’s top priorities,” said Marc Lotter, the mayor’s communications director. Each year, Lotter said, some 5,000 formerly incarcerated individuals come into Indianapolis, and “most of them want to turn their lives around. With Ban the Box, it eliminates the chance they’ll be instantly disqualified, and it encourages employers to first identify the potential these applicants hold.”
Liam Julian is a writer and editor with the CSG Justice Center.
By Liam Julian
Around 65 million Americans of working age have criminal records. Finding a job isn’t easy for anyone, but it’s especially difficult for them. Sometimes, formerly incarcerated individuals simply lack the knowledge and skills that would make them employable; other times, they are barred from filling certain jobs by federal or state laws. But in many instances, employers simply are reluctant to hire people with criminal records and eliminate such applicants from consideration before even reviewing their qualifications.
“The question for me,” said Nebraska state Sen. Bill Avery, “was why go to the expense and effort of preparing prisoners for jobs on the outside when we have barriers that impede their ability to even be considered for employment. ‘Ban the Box’ was an important effort to remove one of those barriers.”
“Ban the Box.” It’s a catchy phrase describing a national political movement that seeks to ensure job applicants with criminal records can show a potential employer their qualifications before revealing their criminal histories. “Box” refers to the job application checkbox that people with criminal records are asked to tick.
State Actions
Avery introduced Nebraska’s Ban the Box legislation, Legislative Bill 932, in January. The bill prohibits public employers from asking about a job applicant’s criminal past until they establish whether the applicant meets minimum job requirements. The Business & Labor Committee unanimously passed the bill, which was then attached to a larger prison reform bill. That bill passed 46-0 and Gov. Dave Heineman signed it into law in April.The first state to pass such a law was Hawaii, which removed questions about criminal history from job applications for both public and private positions in 1998. But the phrase “Ban the Box” didn’t appear until years later, in the early 2000s, when the activist group All of Us or None used the term to describe its California-based campaign. The slogan caught on, and Ban the Box is now recognized shorthand for the movement behind an array of state and local legislation, ordinances and orders.
Thirteen states and the District of Columbia have passed Ban the Box legislation, according to Michelle Natividad Rodriguez of the National Employment Law Project, which supports Ban the Box. Some 70 cities and counties have effectively done the same.
Six states and the District of Columbia—as well as several cities, such as Baltimore, Newark, N.J., and San Francisco—have, like Hawaii, applied Ban the Box to private employers as well as public ones. In fact, some private businesses like Walmart and Target have voluntarily removed questions about criminal history from their job applications nationwide.
The belief undergirding all Ban the Box laws is much the same—that steady employment for people with criminal records is a fundamental part of those individuals’ successful reintegration into society. When individuals with criminal records can’t find work, it doesn’t affect only them. It negatively affects entire communities. A study by the Philadelphia Economy League found that the employment of formerly incarcerated individuals has a significant positive impact on tax revenues. The Center for Economic and Policy Research, in a 2010 report, found that unemployment rates among ex-offenders costs the economy about $60 billion a year in lost productivity and lowered output of goods and services.
Addressing a Problem
Many policymakers believe Ban the Box is part of the solution to this problem. California Assembly Member Roger Dickinson is among them. He authored his state’s Ban the Box legislation, Assembly Bill 218, which Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law in October 2013; it took effect in July 2014. “California’s recidivism rate is one of the highest in the nation,” Dickinson said. “And there is growing consensus that we must do all we can as government agencies to reduce reoffending in smart, coordinated and cost-effective ways.” Much like Nebraska’s law, California’s law prohibits government agencies from asking a job applicant about his or her criminal history until those agencies have evaluated the applicant’s employment qualifications. It doesn’t apply to jobs that require a background check or to criminal justice-related positions. The bill had many supporters, but it had its critics, too. The California State Association of Counties, for example, wrote that the bill took away “the discretion of local agencies to design an employment policy that works locally.”According to Dickinson, some disagreement with this legislation stemmed from misconceptions. Certain critics, he said, believed the law “would require those with conviction histories to be hired.” Others believed it “would put vulnerable populations, like children, in harm’s way.”
But since Assembly Bill 218 became law and its provisions have been clarified, some critics have softened their positions.
Faith Conley, the California State Association of Counties’ legislative representative for employee relations, said now that Brown has signed the legislation, counties “are eagerly implementing the new (Ban the Box) policy. “We believe we can both implement the new policy and also protect public safety and security,” she said.
In Georgia, Ban the Box is set to become law by executive order. The state’s Criminal Justice Reform Council earlier this year recommended Georgia remove questions about criminal history from state agency job application forms and “instead require that the applicant disclose any criminal history during a face-to-face interview.” Gov. Nathan Deal intends to issue an executive order reflecting that recommendation, and will do so likely before the General Assembly reconvenes in January, according to Sasha Dlugolenski, a press aide for the governor.
Local Campaigns
Ban the Box campaigns have been especially successful at the local level.In Indianapolis, for example, the city council in January passed an ordi- nance mandating that city and county agencies and their contractors not ask job applicants about criminal history until later interviews. Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard strongly supports Ban the Box. “Re-entry has been one of the mayor’s top priorities,” said Marc Lotter, the mayor’s communications director. Each year, Lotter said, some 5,000 formerly incarcerated individuals come into Indianapolis, and “most of them want to turn their lives around. With Ban the Box, it eliminates the chance they’ll be instantly disqualified, and it encourages employers to first identify the potential these applicants hold.”
Liam Julian is a writer and editor with the CSG Justice Center.
Purpose 2 Mar 2015 7:06 AM (10 years ago)
What are we doing to find our true life's purpose? Do we have just one? Does it change over time? Is it about us or something greater than ourselves?
My passion has always been to help and serve others so that they can do things they never dreamed possible. Recently I saw The Imitation Game and there was a recurring quote that stuck with me: "Sometimes it is the people who no one imagines anything of who do the things no one can imagine." I have always made it my purpose to find and help those people. I pray I can continue to find ways to do so.
What about you?
My passion has always been to help and serve others so that they can do things they never dreamed possible. Recently I saw The Imitation Game and there was a recurring quote that stuck with me: "Sometimes it is the people who no one imagines anything of who do the things no one can imagine." I have always made it my purpose to find and help those people. I pray I can continue to find ways to do so.
What about you?
Georgia Leaders Discuss Challenges, Strategies in Hiring Individuals with Criminal Records 19 Dec 2014 7:38 AM (10 years ago)
Taken from: http://csgjusticecenter.org/reentry/posts/georgia-leaders-discuss-challenges-strategies-in-hiring-individuals-with-criminal-records/
December 15, 2014
State leaders and business executives convened in Atlanta recently to address barriers to employment faced by individuals with criminal records, and to discuss strategies for improving employment outcomes.
December 15, 2014
By Mai P. Tran, program associate
State leaders and business executives convened in Atlanta recently to address barriers to employment faced by individuals with criminal records, and to discuss strategies for improving employment outcomes.
The event, “Reducing the Risk of a Criminal Record: The Employer’s Perspective,” highlighted companies that hire individuals with criminal records.
Challenge and Opportunity
During a panel moderated by Appeals Court Judge Michael P. Boggs, business leaders shared approaches to fair hiring practices, including conducting a background check only after a job offer has been made and also giving potential employees the opportunity to explain their criminal record.
The panelists also addressed hiring challenges and risks. For big businesses, there is often the pressure to protect brand image from the stigma of hiring individuals with criminal records. Derek Bottoms, vice president of employment practices and associate relations at Home Depot, suggested that large companies are more likely to contend with the possibility that consumers might, for example, post negatively on social media about the company’s practice of hiring individuals with criminal records. In these cases, he said, “there is nothing a policymaker can do to protect the brand.”
For some small business owners, on the other hand, liability or fear of negligent hiring and supervising claims may discourage the hiring of individuals with criminal records. Peter deKok, owner of P.T. Enterprise, a natural stone distribution company, added that employment laws and policies with restrictions and rigid requirements on hiring and licensing “place an unfair burden on those employers trying to do right.”
Labor and employment attorney Myra Creighton stressed that people should be given the opportunity to explain their criminal record(s), and hiring managers and human resource departments should be trained on how to have these types of conversations. She noted that even the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), a federal agency that enforces federal laws against employment discrimination, conducts background checks.
Employers as ‘Customers’
Leaders in corrections, workforce development, and policymakers who participated in the event’s second panel agreed that employers’ needs, which have traditionally been less emphasized, are also important.
“We have always looked at job seekers as our customer base,” said Michael Sterling, executive director of the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency. “But we need to start looking to employers as a customer base, too.”
The panelists discussed policies in Georgia that create barriers to employment for individuals with criminal records, such as driver’s license restrictions. Not having a license can become a significant challenge to securing and maintaining employment, especially for those without access to public transportation. Panelists also identified initiatives and programs in the state that help individuals with criminal records obtain jobs. Commissioner Brian Owens of the Georgia Department of Corrections mentioned opportunities made available to help incarcerated individuals obtain high school diplomas and college credits, as well as certifications for in-demand fields such as diesel mechanics and welding.
This discussion is a part of the growing conversation across the country between business leaders and policymakers on improving employment outcomes for individuals with criminal records. It is modeled after an event held in June 2014 at the White House, and is inspired by “State Pathways to Prosperity,” an initiative of the Council of State Governments, which is supported by the CSG Justice Center’s Reentry and Employment project. To learn more how you can host similar conversations in your jurisdiction, click here.
Share your story 26 Nov 2014 7:22 AM (10 years ago)
CRILES, Rehabilitation Reentry Program
Lazone Grays Jr IBSA, Inc. - Chief Executive Officer says:
If you have an interesting story you want to tell about an experience in lockup, or about someone you know who is incarcerated and want to share a thought - CRILES, is looking for true testimonials to publish in its articles, newsletters, and social media streams.
To set up your 1 on 1 interview, please email Mr. Gwyndell B. DeClerck at gbdeclerck@criles.org or call (785) 693-0131. Your story may save the life of someone on the wrong path!
CRILES, REHABILITATION REENTRY PROGRAM is an Official IBSA, Inc. program, funded by it's own pledged members. Based in Topeka, KS, IBSA is a veteran training/service provider working with low-income youth, adults, single-parents, ex-offenders and startup entrepreneurs. For more information visit www.criles.org.
CRILES, REHABILITATION REENTRY PROGRAM is an Official IBSA, Inc. program, funded by it's own pledged members. Based in Topeka, KS, IBSA is a veteran training/service provider working with low-income youth, adults, single-parents, ex-offenders and startup entrepreneurs. For more information visit www.criles.org.
Pennsylvania DOC Launches Interactive Map to Connect Individuals to Reentry Services 26 Nov 2014 7:17 AM (10 years ago)
People returning home from prison in Pennsylvania have a new resource to help them find the reentry services they need throughout the state’s 67 counties. The Interactive Reentry Services Map—launched in September 2014 by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PDOC)—allows users to search for service providers, resources, and other assistance in their communities with the click of a mouse.
Click here to learn more:
http://csgjusticecenter.org/reentry/posts/pennsylvania-doc-launches-interactive-map-to-connect-individuals-to-reentry-services/
http://reentrymap.cor.state.pa.us/
Click here to learn more:
http://csgjusticecenter.org/reentry/posts/pennsylvania-doc-launches-interactive-map-to-connect-individuals-to-reentry-services/
http://reentrymap.cor.state.pa.us/
The Wilderness 30 Apr 2014 10:04 AM (10 years ago)
Are you wandering around with a wilderness mentality like I recently was? Thinking that you are always only ever going to be a failure and that you can't trust any decisions you make? I'm here to tell you today that it's time to enter the promised land!! It's time to dump the negative thinking and behaviors that got you where you are now. How?
Stop negative thinking as soon as you realize you are doing it.
Start telling yourself the truth.
Spend time with positive people.
Don't isolate. Get out. Summer will be here... someday!
Find fun and productive things to do.
Laugh more.
Change one thing at a time. What's not working for you right now? Start with that.
Tell someone you trust that you want to change. Have them hold you accountable.
Set goals. Real goals. Goals you can reach. Then write down the steps to getting there.
Your promised land is closer than you think. Don't spend 40 years wandering in the wilderness when you could actually be thriving in paradise!!
Stop negative thinking as soon as you realize you are doing it.
Start telling yourself the truth.
Spend time with positive people.
Don't isolate. Get out. Summer will be here... someday!
Find fun and productive things to do.
Laugh more.
Change one thing at a time. What's not working for you right now? Start with that.
Tell someone you trust that you want to change. Have them hold you accountable.
Set goals. Real goals. Goals you can reach. Then write down the steps to getting there.
Your promised land is closer than you think. Don't spend 40 years wandering in the wilderness when you could actually be thriving in paradise!!
Career coach helps inmates get fresh start 23 Jan 2014 11:38 AM (11 years ago)
Borrowed from the Justice Center.
January 7, 2014
http://csgjusticecenter.org/reentry/media-clips/career-coach-helps-inmates-get-fresh-start/?utm_source=CSG+Justice+Center+Primary+List&utm_campaign=c85bcb8939-NRRC_Newsletter_1_16_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_db9d88bcfb-c85bcb8939-42280953
January 7, 2014
The Daily News Journal
By: Nancy De Gennaro
Although the average recidivism rate for inmates in the state system hovers around 70 percent, local organizations are working together to reduce the number who return to incarceration.
Doors of Hope has teamed up with the Tennessee Department of Correction, the Rutherford County Correctional Work Center and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office to get inmates career-planning assistance, a huge part of reducing recidivism.
“There are community organizations out here that help (inmates) find skills needed to re-enter society,” says Amy Jaramillo, a volunteer with the nonprofit Doors of Hope, an organization that does just that, offering mentorship, guidance and encouragement for ex-offenders. “We want a safer community and one way to have a safer community is (helping) these folks who have served their time … reintegrate back into society.”
Part of the solution is provided by TDOC, which has a mobile Career Coach that travels to various locations to offer resume and job-search assistance. Most recently, the Career Coach has visited the Correctional Work Center. The bus is equipped with about a dozen computers, Internet access and help from job coaches who assist people in searching for employment and creating resumes.
“My main job responsibility is … to assist with reintegrating (inmates) into the work world,” says Stephen Darrow, an employment specialist with TDOC who travels with the Career Coach.
Stumbling blocks can seem insurmountable when an individual is released, Jaramillo says.
By: Nancy De Gennaro
Although the average recidivism rate for inmates in the state system hovers around 70 percent, local organizations are working together to reduce the number who return to incarceration.
Doors of Hope has teamed up with the Tennessee Department of Correction, the Rutherford County Correctional Work Center and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office to get inmates career-planning assistance, a huge part of reducing recidivism.
“There are community organizations out here that help (inmates) find skills needed to re-enter society,” says Amy Jaramillo, a volunteer with the nonprofit Doors of Hope, an organization that does just that, offering mentorship, guidance and encouragement for ex-offenders. “We want a safer community and one way to have a safer community is (helping) these folks who have served their time … reintegrate back into society.”
Part of the solution is provided by TDOC, which has a mobile Career Coach that travels to various locations to offer resume and job-search assistance. Most recently, the Career Coach has visited the Correctional Work Center. The bus is equipped with about a dozen computers, Internet access and help from job coaches who assist people in searching for employment and creating resumes.
“My main job responsibility is … to assist with reintegrating (inmates) into the work world,” says Stephen Darrow, an employment specialist with TDOC who travels with the Career Coach.
Stumbling blocks can seem insurmountable when an individual is released, Jaramillo says.
“They come out in debt. They come out maybe without a driver’s license — some of the simple things most of us take for granted, and so Doors of Hope along with the (Tennessee Department of Correction) are trying to find ways to reach these felons and misdemeanants and say, ‘Hey, this is what you need to do,’” Jaramillo says.
Although misdemeanors can make finding employment difficult, many companies won’t even look at resumes from those with felony convictions. And many times, felonies and misdemeanors “run hand in hand,” Darrow says.
Although misdemeanors can make finding employment difficult, many companies won’t even look at resumes from those with felony convictions. And many times, felonies and misdemeanors “run hand in hand,” Darrow says.
Another part of Darrow’s job is creating partnerships with local businesses in order to “break down barriers” and stigma regarding employment of those who have been incarcerated.
“There are myths that a person with a felony background is not going to be a good worker. That’s a misconception,” Darrow says.
Hiring ex-offenders can be a win-win situation for both the business and individuals.
“There are tax credits and there’s the federal bonding program, which is an insurance policy by the federal government to any business that hires a person with a felony background … to give offenders a second chance,” Darrow says.
Giving ex-offenders hope is a key element to cutting the recidivism rate, says Kim Robertson, who is over the programs at the Rutherford County Correctional Work Center.
“Individuals that come through here … they don’t have the (knowledge) of how to get started. … The most important thing they get out of (Career Coach) is there is help out there and not to give up,” Robertson says. “If they’re going to get turned down at one place, they’re going to get irritated and think, ‘I’m not going to keep trying,’ and therefore they’re going to re-offend. They need to learn to take another route.”
If ex-offenders are employed, “They’re paying their bills, paying into their Social Security and they’re not out committing crimes,” Darrow says. “I’ve seen it happen … they get a steady paycheck. They get more confident in themselves, they start believing in themselves and they’re formulating an idea of what they want to do as a career. They are on a stepping block to doing something more.”
For more information about Doors of Hope classes and programs, call 615-653-5501.
“There are myths that a person with a felony background is not going to be a good worker. That’s a misconception,” Darrow says.
Hiring ex-offenders can be a win-win situation for both the business and individuals.
“There are tax credits and there’s the federal bonding program, which is an insurance policy by the federal government to any business that hires a person with a felony background … to give offenders a second chance,” Darrow says.
Giving ex-offenders hope is a key element to cutting the recidivism rate, says Kim Robertson, who is over the programs at the Rutherford County Correctional Work Center.
“Individuals that come through here … they don’t have the (knowledge) of how to get started. … The most important thing they get out of (Career Coach) is there is help out there and not to give up,” Robertson says. “If they’re going to get turned down at one place, they’re going to get irritated and think, ‘I’m not going to keep trying,’ and therefore they’re going to re-offend. They need to learn to take another route.”
If ex-offenders are employed, “They’re paying their bills, paying into their Social Security and they’re not out committing crimes,” Darrow says. “I’ve seen it happen … they get a steady paycheck. They get more confident in themselves, they start believing in themselves and they’re formulating an idea of what they want to do as a career. They are on a stepping block to doing something more.”
For more information about Doors of Hope classes and programs, call 615-653-5501.
http://csgjusticecenter.org/reentry/media-clips/career-coach-helps-inmates-get-fresh-start/?utm_source=CSG+Justice+Center+Primary+List&utm_campaign=c85bcb8939-NRRC_Newsletter_1_16_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_db9d88bcfb-c85bcb8939-42280953
New Year 2014 30 Dec 2013 9:59 AM (11 years ago)
Well, it's that time of year again. Some of us come to the end of a year with happiness and others with sadness because things didn't go as planned or as hoped. Typically, I dread this time of year. Sometimes it is hard to find hope when there is evidence all around you not to have it. But I challenge you to have it anyway!
I challenge you to find a theme for 2014. What is the ONE THING that you can focus on all year that will make all the difference in where you are now and where you will be 12 months from now? Just one thing. That's it. Focus on one. We can all do that.
Each year I have been picking a word for the year to help me in this endeavor. For 2011 it was LIVE. For 2012 it was DANCE (as in, "life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain"). For 2013 it was ACCEPT (as in "In acceptance lieth peace"). I'm still working on 2014 but I think it's going to be something about letting go.
Life never turns out the way we hope or plan. It's just too messy to do so. All we can do is our very best in each and every moment that presents itself. That's it.
So find your word, your phrase, or your one thing that you can do this year to make it better than before. Go ahead. What have you got to lose?
I challenge you to find a theme for 2014. What is the ONE THING that you can focus on all year that will make all the difference in where you are now and where you will be 12 months from now? Just one thing. That's it. Focus on one. We can all do that.
Each year I have been picking a word for the year to help me in this endeavor. For 2011 it was LIVE. For 2012 it was DANCE (as in, "life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain"). For 2013 it was ACCEPT (as in "In acceptance lieth peace"). I'm still working on 2014 but I think it's going to be something about letting go.
Life never turns out the way we hope or plan. It's just too messy to do so. All we can do is our very best in each and every moment that presents itself. That's it.
So find your word, your phrase, or your one thing that you can do this year to make it better than before. Go ahead. What have you got to lose?
Great Idea for Veterans Who Need Work. How About You? 9 Oct 2013 9:36 AM (11 years ago)
This is a great business model right here in my own city of Milwaukee. If Veterans can do this, so can others!!
http://fox6now.com/2013/06/23/heroes-come-hope-troop-cafe-putting-veterans-to-work/
http://fox6now.com/2013/06/23/heroes-come-hope-troop-cafe-putting-veterans-to-work/
EEOC Challenges Three Companies for Inappropriate Use of Criminal Records in Employment Decisions 10 Sep 2013 7:21 AM (11 years ago)
Excellent article noting a few "offenders" who violated EEOC guidelines about hiring people with criminal backgrounds. Shame on BMW, Dollar General, and JB Hunt Transport!
http://csgjusticecenter.org/nrrc/federal-interagency-reentry-council/posts/eeoc-challenges-three-companies-for-inappropriate-use-of-criminal-records-in-employment-decisions/?utm_source=CSG+Justice+Center+Primary+List&utm_campaign=e8baf8a6ef-9_5_13_NRRC_Newsletter9_5_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_db9d88bcfb-e8baf8a6ef-42280953
http://csgjusticecenter.org/nrrc/federal-interagency-reentry-council/posts/eeoc-challenges-three-companies-for-inappropriate-use-of-criminal-records-in-employment-decisions/?utm_source=CSG+Justice+Center+Primary+List&utm_campaign=e8baf8a6ef-9_5_13_NRRC_Newsletter9_5_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_db9d88bcfb-e8baf8a6ef-42280953
Thank you for Reading 9 Sep 2013 7:12 AM (11 years ago)
Thank you for checking out this blog. It is my passion to help those who have made mistakes. We've ALL made them. Please consider sharing the information you find on here or sending me feedback on how I can make this more useful. The more that can benefit and find new ideas and ways to success, the better.
Wall Street Journal Discusses Background Checks 9 Sep 2013 7:02 AM (11 years ago)
Interesting article on the use of background checks and the need to eliminate "the box" from job applications.
I really appreciate his closing comment: What we need to do is take a closer look at how we use the word "criminal" and what it really means. Otherwise millions of qualified Americans will be disqualified before they even apply.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323324904579040971327102370.html?ru=yahoo?mod=yahoo_itp
I really appreciate his closing comment: What we need to do is take a closer look at how we use the word "criminal" and what it really means. Otherwise millions of qualified Americans will be disqualified before they even apply.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323324904579040971327102370.html?ru=yahoo?mod=yahoo_itp