The Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) “envisions a safer Idaho with fewer people in the correctional system” according to its mission statement.
To help incarcerated people find work, the agency is hosting job fairs for prison residents who will be released in the next six months. The first job fair will take place in July, with more planned for the near future.
Through her work as Apprenticeship Program Coordinator for IDOC, Crystal Robles, sees how incarcerated people want to improve their lives. As a way to encourage this behavior, she decided to coordinate with prison staff to host job fairs.
“I see a lot of people that came into the prison at a very young age. These are individuals that were 19 or 20 and made a bad choice,” Robles said. “Now after 10 or 20 years of being incarcerated, they are being released as a different person with training and education.”
The bad choices, as Robles describes it, can range in severity and type; from non-violent financial crimes and drug-related offenses to more severe crimes.
Regardless of the crime, a criminal record can make it a challenge for people who are incarcerated to pursue their future employment prospects. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, nearly 600,000 people are released from incarceration every year in the United States. In total, 77 million Americans have a criminal record. [1]
And although these individuals have made poor choices that landed them in the corrections system, Robles sees how their lives change. For some, this could be through higher education. Recently, IDOC had two people earn degrees from Lewis-Clark State College during incarceration.
One story that stands out to Robles is about someone with low confidence in his job skills, whom IDOC helped with his resume to get into the electrical industry. In the end, he was connected to an employer and landed a job in the field he wanted.
“I remember he was in tears saying ‘This is the best job I have ever had. Everyone is so welcoming. For the first time ever, I feel like a person.’” Robles said, “He was given a second chance.”
Next month’s job fair will connect people who are incarcerated with a wide range of employers having hiring opportunities for everything from the trades to hotels, apprenticeships and entry-level jobs. Representatives from the Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Idaho Department of Labor will also be present.
Data shows employers who give incarcerated people a second chance have a great experience with these employees. 85% of human resource leaders say that second chance hired individuals perform the same or even better than other employees. And 81% of business leaders say the same. [1]
Robles stated some employers attending the July event want to hire people who are new to an industry so they can teach them the ropes in hopes of keeping them long-term.
“Some individuals have no educational experience but that’s okay,” Robles said. “The job fair provides a little bit of everything for incarcerated individuals who have no work experience.”
IDOC also partners with Apprenticeship Idaho to connect people who are incarcerated to the Registered Apprenticeship program for on-the-job training in a new career that pays well. IDOC has been connecting individuals to the program since 2010 with 106 people successfully completing the program.
The program gives people an opportunity to gain training, technical skills and experience. Those who complete the program come out of it well-rounded and fully prepared to learn more.
“Just from what I have seen, the apprenticeship program gives these individuals that extra thing they need,” Robles said. “A lot of participants have been successful, and it makes me proud. If they want it —they can get it.”
Currently, people in the apprenticeship program through IDOC can pursue careers in the trades and construction. However, IDOC is starting to offer other apprenticeship opportunities for production cooks, laundry technicians, accountants, information technology specialists and office managers.
“Not everyone is interested in pursuing the construction trade,” Robles said. “I am hoping to see a rise in different apprenticeship options offered soon.”
Data for people who are incarcerated in the United States shows individuals tend to gravitate more towards administrative support, waste management, and remediation services (23.3%) followed by accommodation and food services (18.9%) upon initial release. However, data also shows individuals go into construction (10.2%), manufacturing (10.3%) and retail trade (10.2%). [1]
“Everyone is seeing that employment is a big piece to the puzzle in relation to treatment and housing. We need to do better about it,” Robles said. “Connecting incarcerated individuals with employers is the first step.”
IDOC also connects individuals to other resources like the Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Idaho Department of Labor. These agencies help individuals fill out job applications online and help them identify fake job applications, so they don’t get scammed.
IDOC has other resources for incarcerated people entering the workforce as well, including access to Community Release Centers, which give people the opportunity to work every day in the community for employers. The centers also give vocational education and provide apprenticeship opportunities. These centers are located in Nampa, south Boise, Idaho Falls and Twin Falls.
In a study of recently released prisoners, the Bureau of Justice found that 81.9% of incarcerated individuals will be arrested again within 10 years after their release. However, other studies have shown that employment directly correlates with a decrease of when someone re-commits a crime. [1]
Robles believes helping the formerly incarcerated secure employment after their release benefits everyone in Idaho.
“Helping incarcerated individuals find employment not only helps them out but helps Idaho’s labor force,” Robles said.
Businesses interested in participating in IDOC’s job fairs should contact Robles at crobles@idoc.idaho.gov or 208-658-2075.
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The Idaho Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship program is 100% funded by the U.S. Department of Labor as part of Employment and Training Administration grants totaling $4,623,520.
Lindsay Trombly, Public Information Specialist
Idaho Department of Labor