WIN WIN WIN

1
WIN WIN WIN

• Marketing Customers With Criminal Records
• An Untapped Resource

2
Baltimore CountyRe-entry Transition Program

• Assist individuals with criminal records to
  successfully transition into career paths in
  growth sectors that pay living wages.
• Address Barriers
• Job Development and Placement
• Retention Strategies
• Assist employers with finding qualified staff.
• Match job skills with employer needs
• Coordinate postplacement resources
• Educate on the benefits of employing our
• customers

3
Hiring Former Offenders is Good Business

• Finding qualified and committed employees
  continues to be a challenge for employers and the
  ex-offender population offers skilled and
  experienced candidates.
• The motivation to be self sufficient and begin a
  new life often makes for a very appreciative
  employee that is committed to excellence and
  proving their ability to succeed.

4
Employers Save Time and Money by Utilizing
Re-entry Transition Units Expertise in Providing

• Assessments
• Pre-screening
• On-site Recruitment
• Placements
• Support Services
• Follow-up and Retention Services
• Employer Support

5
Jobseekers Become Job Ready

• Job readiness programs teach individuals
• Higher level math and reading skills
• Life skills coaching
• How to look for jobs
• Prepare resumes
• Interview
• Monitor progress in employer contact

6
Re-entry Statistics in Maryland
(Department of Public Safety and Correctional
Services FY 2007)

• 22,930 men and women are incarcerated in Maryland
  state prisons and 13,814 in local jails.
• 14,924 are released annually from state prisons
  and 133,863 from local jails.
• Based upon 2004 releases, 48.8 of state prison
  inmates return to incarceration within three
  years of release.
• It costs 29,167 per year to house and care for
  each inmate in Maryland state prison.

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Perceived Risks
8
Perceived Myths
9
Specialized Training

• Some ex-offenders have learned valuable skills
  while incarcerated
• Barber
• Printing
• Carpentry
• Computer Applications
• Auto Mechanic
• Shoe Repair
• Culinary/Food Services

10
Employer Incentives

• Federal Fidelity Bonding Program
• Sponsored by the Department of Labor to protect
  and address employer concerns by providing
  bonding insurance

• Work Opportunity Tax Credit
• Reduce employers federal income tax
  liability
• by as much as 2,400 per qualified
  new worker

11
New State Tax Incentive

• Businesses that operate in Maryland and hire
  one or
• more ex-felons during the period from January
  1, 2007,
• through December 31, 2011, who are employed
  by the
• business for at least one year, may be
  entitled to a tax
• credit.
• For the first year, the credit is 30 of the
  first 6,000
• paid to a qualified individual with a maximum
  credit of
• 1,800. In the second year, the credit is
  20 of the
• first 6,000 paid with a maximum credit of
  1,200.

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Win Win Win
Workforce Development
Employers
Re-Entry
Population

• Increase bottom line with tax credits
• Increase pool of qualified candidates
• Increase tax base and reduce cost of
  incarceration
• Help to make communities safer by reducing
  recidivism
• Attract more businesses as a result of a
  diversified and viable workforce in a safer
  environment

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To Learn More About The Baltimore County
Re-entry Program, Please Contact

• ? Grace Fendlay, Manager of Special Programs
• Phone [phone]
• Email gfendlay_at_dllr.state.md.us

• ? Venita R. Bocage, Re-entry Transition
  Specialist
• Phone [phone] ext. 604
• Email vbocage_at_dllr.state.md.us

• ? Thomas Kuller, Re-entry Transition Specialist
• Phone [phone] ext. 320
• Email tkuller_at_baltimorecountymd.gov

14
What Employers
Are Saying
15
Jack Weber, PresidentUptown Press

• I personally have been promoting the whole
  program because it makes sense, and its been
  successful for me. He personally interviews all
  ex-offenders and looks for basic work skills,
  like good communication, positive attitudes and
  friendliness. Weber said employers can also
  benefit greatly from hiring ex-offenders.

16
Debra Keller-Greene, OwnerKeller Professional
Services

• I believe that people should not be judged by
  their crime, but by their character and how well
  they demonstrate their desire to change their
  lives. As an employer, the most important factor
  for me is hiring individuals who have the spirit
  to serve and the ability to perform the job.
  Ex-offenders also deserve a chance to make a
  decent living for themselves.

17
David Marshall, Jr., OwnerMarshall Jr., Inc.

• Marshall Jr., Inc. has had tremendous success
  with hiring ex-offenders. Oftentimes during the
  interview process, applicants say that everywhere
  they go doors are being slammed in their faces.
  We believe in providing a second chance so that
  our employees can one day move on to bigger and
  better opportunities.

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To Learn More About The Baltimore County Re-Entry
Program, Please Contact

• ? Grace Fendlay, Manager of Special Programs
• Phone [phone]
• Email gfendlay_at_dllr.state.md.us
• ? Venita R. Bocage, Re-entry Transition
  Specialist
• Phone [phone] ext. 604
• Email vbocage_at_dllr.state.md.us
• ? Thomas Kuller, Re-entry Transition Specialist
• Phone [phone] ext. 320
• Email tkuller_at_baltimorecountymd.gov