Hiring Ex-Offenders...

This is a "Did You Know?" day, because before today, much of this I didnt....

After attending the Hearing this afternoon before the Subcommittee of Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia on the issue of "An Examination of Federal Employment Practices/Policies on Hiring Ex-Offenders," I learned a lot about the reentry situation for those who have been incarcerated. First, recitivism rate can mean two things: rearrest rate, and reincarceration rate. I was unaware they were categorized as two seperate things within the whole of "recitivism." In America today, there are more people incarcerated per capita than any other country in the world. 2.3 million people are in prison in the US, compared to 1.5 million in China. 650,000 inmates are released every year, and within three years, 50% will be reincarcerated, and 66% will be rearrested. Those numbers are astounding, and quite clearly show a problem.

The head of the committee, Congressman Danny K. Davis, introduced the 2nd Chance Act, which "is designed to rehabilitate and to prepare ex-offenders for a healthy and positive reentry into normal society once they are released from correctional facilities and institutions and to reduce recidivism." Obviously, he has vested interest in determining whether or not the federal government is doing a decent job of hiring ex-offenders, providing jobs that enable them to become good citizens. At one point during the hearing, he stated that the government cannot expect private businesses to hire ex-offenders if it is not being done at a federal level... I think it was a really solid point.

Particularly interesting were the testimonies of Roberta Meyers-Peeples, Director of National H.I.R.E. Network, Mark Early, President of Prison Fellowship Ministries, and William R. Calhoun, Jr., Executive Vice President of Clark Construction Group, LLC. Meyers-Peeples runs an organization that specifically works with ex-offenders to help them obtain employment. Of course, Mark Early had much a lot of good things to say on the subject. His testimony was extremely informative and persuasive on the up hill battle that reentry is for all ex-offenders. And Calhoun runs a prestigious construction company that hires ex-offenders. Read their testimonies (attached to their names). Youll learn a lot.

Today's hearing served to not only increase my knowledge about the problems involved in reentry in our society, but also to deepen my heart for the issues prisoners and their families face. Jesus' call to go to the prisoner was not in vain.

(To View PFM's new article on the hearing, and a summary of Mark Early's testimony, click here.)

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Lesson for Today: Or should I say lessons, for today's came in a set of three: 1. Women you dont know talking about weight issues in an elevator can be an extremely awkward situation. 2. Do not pass a cop going 62 mph on a 55 mph highway, as it apparently makes them pretty mad. 3. Walking with direction while dressed professionally will make you as professional as a real professional. At least on Capital Hill, it will.