How to serve individuals with a criminal background ...€¦ · Unemployment is a criminogenic risk...

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RESOURCES, TOOLS, AND STRATEGIES

How to serve individuals with a

criminal background successfully

Mythbuster

Generally speaking, individuals released from prison have spent long

sentences due to serious crimes

75% of individuals released from prison were incarcerated for less

than a total of 3 years

Prison Releases in Wisconsin – Time Served

Less than 1year

1 year 2 years 3 years 4 years 5 years +

Time Between Admission and Release

Note: Release numbers exclude temporary holds. Release counts and percentages are calculated excluding unknown sentence data.

Mythbuster

Individuals released from prison are generally older in age, and

would not support the long-term, growing workforce needs of

Wisconsin

77% of individuals released from prison were under the age of 45,

and have the potential for long, stable careers that support the

growing workforce needs of Wisconsin

Wisconsin Correctional Population

In 2014, 8,667 individuals released into the community

from incarceration

27.7% of individuals released to Milwaukee County

6.4 % individuals released to Dane County (551

individuals)

Mythbuster

It is uncommon for an individuals in the general public to have a

criminal history, and/or to have gone through the criminal justice

system at some point in their lifetime

6.85 million adults (or 1 in 36) in the United States under some form

of active correctional supervision

70 million adults (or 1 in 3) in the US with a criminal record

Wisconsin Statistics

64,000+ under correctional supervision in the community

22,000+ incarcerated in Wisconsin DOC institutions

8,500 – 9,000 DOC inmates released each year in WI

6.4% 5.3% 4.2% 4.2% 3.8%

Milwaukee Dane Racine Brown Kenosha Waukesha

ent of

2014 Releases from Incarceration

WIOA FUNDING THROUGH

WORKSMART & DEPARTMENT OF

CORRECTIONS PROGRAMMING

AND INITIATIVES

How to effectively work

with this population

Worksmart

My name is Dynae Saba and I am a Career Services

Specialist with Worksmart.

Worksmart is a Federal Program that assists dislocated

workers, low income candidates as well as reentering

offenders, with education and work readiness services

for an easier transition back into the workforce.

About Me:

I personally work with the re-entering population in Dane County, all of my participants have gone through extensive work readiness curriculum during their time served and many acquired education or maintained work experience during their tenures.

Upon release I work diligently with these individuals to ensure they're work ready and referral appropriate, I am able to do all of these things through Worksmart.

WI Economy & pros of hiring reentering candidates

With the low unemployment rate in Dane County (2.1% ) many

are struggling to find the employees they need to staff their

businesses.

Many reentering candidates possess or are eligible for:

Fidelity bonding & Work Opportunity Tax Credit

College Education assistance

Extensive Job training

Paid internships or apprenticeship opportunities

Eligibility requirements For Worksmart IN

DANE COUNTY

Clients can be found eligible if they’re:

Receiving unemployment.

Receiving State Benefits (Foodshare, Badgercare, w2).

Make Less than the 250% Federal Poverty Level (Less than

$30,150 annually per person).

Eligibility requirements For Worksmart IN

DANE COUNTY

Clients can be found eligible if they’re:

Receiving unemployment.

Receiving State Benefits (Foodshare, Badgercare,

Make Less than the 250% Federal Poverty Level

(Less than $30,150 annually per person).

Services provided to reentry participants

Cognitive Behavioral Intervention training

In depth employment industry assessments

Resume and cover letter development, mock interviewing

Assistance with Computer work (applications and fundamental

etiquette)

Housing assistance and Supportive services related to work –

tools, clothing, transportation assistance

Education both short term and long term (up to an associates

in an In demand industry)

Updates and preparation for community events

Advocacy and support

A year of follow up services available once they’re employed

Ways Businesses Utilize WorkSmart

RECRUITMENT

Job order assistance and posting on Job Center of Wisconsin

Community job fairs

Recruitment events at American Job Centers

Recruitment events at business facilities

Job leads/applicant screening

Resume screening

Interview preparation

TRAINING

Work-based training like on-the-job training (OJT), work experience and internships, and apprenticeships

Customized training for business/sector skill needs

Short term training

Specialized training

Incumbent worker training

Scenario 1: Utilizing Work Experience

1. You've received a referral from Worksmart (or have met a Worksmart eligible applicant on your own) who you're reluctant to hire but would like to try out:

With Worksmart's Work Experience we're able to:

Allow you to try out an employee for 9 weeks at NO COST to you!

As the applicant is an employee of our program there is no insurance liability, we manage time sheets and payroll, etc.

This is a temporary position, terms can be terminated due to poor performance or attendance issues.

Our program pays 100% of the employees wages for the (up to) 9 week term, after that period of time you'd determine if they're appropriate for permanent employment with your business.

SCENARIO 2: utilizing OJT

(On the Job Training)

Now lets say you've met a candidate you really love and want to hire but they're lacking skills they'd need to work efficiently:

With Worksmart's OJT (on the job training) we're able to:

Cover the costs of training up to $5,000.00.

Provide support with employee issues as well as conduct 3 evaluations of our own.

Provide supportive services while they're settling into their position (transportation assistance, tools, etc.).

Department of Corrections’ strategies for offender successes in the

community

Secretary’s Top Priorities:

“…to increase opportunities for inmates to successfully transition from

incarceration to the community through educational attainment and

meaningful employment.”

Windows to Work

WI DOC contracts with each of Wisconsin’s 11 Workforce

Development Boards (WDB) to provide, or subcontract to

provide, a Windows to Work Program at selected state

correctional institutions or county jail facilities in each

workforce development area.

W2W is a pre- and post-release program currently

operating in 12 DAI institutions, and 4 county jails.

Pre-release Services

Both individual and group participation begins

approximately 3 to 9 months prior to release from

incarceration. The Windows to Work Coach provides

participants with classroom training in core curriculum

content areas, and focuses on five main components.

The five components of Windows to Work:

1) Cognitive Intervention (CBI-EMP)

2) General Work Skills and Expectations

3) Financial Literacy

4) Community Resources

5) Job Seeking, Applications, and Resumes

Post-Release Services

Coaches assist participants with job search and job retention activities for approximately 12 months after release from incarceration.

Participants receive assistance in accessing available community resources to address needs for food, shelter, clothing, transportation, and other services.

Windows to Work programs sometimes have limited funds to assist participants in addressing barriers to employment, such as transportation, education, identification and work supplies.

Community Corrections Employment Program

3 Main Components of CCEP

Work Experience Program (WE)

On the Job Training Program (OJT)

Training Opportunities and Placement Program (TOPP) – educational and vocational training assistance

Other Services Available

Direct Placement Services

Supportive Services

Transportation

Clothing

Gas Cards

Tools/Supplies

Driver’s License/State ID

Mythbusters

Businesses and employers have no way to protect themselves from

potential property and monetary losses should an individual they

hire prove to be dishonest.

Through the Federal Bonding Program (FBP), funded and

administered by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), fidelity

insurance bonds are available to indemnify employers for loss of

money or property sustained through the dishonest acts of their

employees (i.e., theft, forgery, larceny, and embezzlement).

Fidelity Bonding

http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/bonding/

No cost – protects employer in case of any loss due to employee dishonesty

Basic $5,000 coverage bond, NO DEDUCTIBLE, expires after 6 months

Mythbusters

Employers have no federal income tax advantage by hiring an ex-

felon.

Employers can save money on their federal income taxes in the form

of a tax credit incentive through the Work Opportunity Tax Credit

(WOTC) program by hiring ex-felons. An ex-felon under WOTC is an

individual who has been convicted of a felony under any statute of

the United States or any State, and has a hiring date which is within

one year from the date of conviction or release from prison.

Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)

http://www.doleta.gov/business/incentives/opptax/

Employees must work 120 hours in first year of employment

“Ex-Felons” Has been convicted of a felony and hire date not more than 1 year after

conviction OR release from prison

$2,400 maximum tax credit

Mythbusters

A person with a criminal record is not eligible to receive federal

student financial aid.

Individuals who are currently incarcerated in a federal, state, or

local correctional institution have some limited eligibility for

federal student aid. In general, restrictions on federal student aid

eligibility are removed for formerly incarcerated individuals,

including those on probation, on parole, or residing in a halfway

house.

Technical College Partnerships

Work closely with technical colleges to connect offenders

on supervision to short-term (or long term) training and

educational options that meet industry demands

DOC piloted a training program at Madison College in

2016 with incarcerated individuals The Industrial Maintenance Essentials: Fluid Power & Metal Processes Specialized

Training Academy

How the DOC and other Reentry

initiatives have improved

More collaboration with outside agencies

Our programming is based on evidence and

research

We effectively track progress to be more

purposeful in our funding

More of an emphasis on trainings, education, and apprenticeship programs

Why is this important

Recidivism and Offender Employment

Unemployment is a criminogenic risk factor. Offenders who are

unemployed are more likely to commit new crimes.

Offenders with higher earnings commit fewer crimes than those

with lower earnings.

“High-quality” jobs with “adequate hours and pay” or

“satisfying employment” leading to “viable work careers” have

an impact on recidivism.

Graduates of employment training programs perform better in

the labor market and they recidivate at lower rates than non-

graduates.

Moving forward

• Through effective and purposeful collaborations, and sharing

of resources, the results can mean a safer community, a more

skilled workforce, and less individuals incarcerated

Employer Testimony

Carol Grundmayer

Talent Acquisition Specialist

Madison-Kipp

Questions?

Contact Information

Dynae Saba – Career Services Specialist

608-242-4556

Dsaba@worksmartnetwork.org

Not in Dane County? Need help with other business services?

Danica Nilsestuen -Director of Business Development 608.249.9001 ext. 227

dnilsestuen@wdbscw.org

Anna NealReentry Employment Coordinator

Anna.Neal@wisconsin.gov

608.240.5037

How to serve individuals with a criminal background ...€¦ · Unemployment is a criminogenic risk...

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