FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 27, 2023) – In honor of April being national Second Chance Month, Gov. Andy Beshear and the Department of Corrections (DOC) are taking time to acknowledge the work being done to assist the justice-involved population obtain employment, addiction treatment and education.
As the Governor previously stated, to support our booming economy, fuel our workforce, fight the drug epidemic and reduce the chances of someone returning to prison, those who have paid their debt to society deserve a second chance.
“My faith teaches me the importance of forgiveness and second chances in this life, and every child of God deserves an opportunity to succeed and provide for their family,” said Gov. Beshear. “By assisting those who have paid their debt to society we are creating a better, safer Kentucky. A commonwealth where crime is reduced, addiction is addressed, the economy is increased, and unemployment rates are decreased. And that is a Kentucky worth living in.”
According to DOC, there are over 20,000 individuals serving felony convictions in state prisons or jails, as well as an additional 49,000 on active supervision with the Division of Probation and Parole. At least 95% of the state inmate population will be released from incarceration at some point.
Currently, the DOC recidivism rate is at 27.15%, which is a historic low. In April 2022, the recidivism rate was 29.17%.
Before individuals are released from incarceration, Reentry Services staff are already paving the way for a smooth transition. In addition to offering programming that enhances knowledge, skills and pro-social behavior, staff work on addressing the population’s practical needs. This includes Medicaid enrollment at the time of release, connecting with a care coordinator in the community to arrange future mental health appointments and providing clothing assistance.
After a successful two-year collaboration between state agencies, DOC is now providing inmates at 14 prisons and several local jails with identification upon release to build a life after incarceration and find meaningful employment.
The state identification program is a partnership between the DOC, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), Kentucky Opioid Response Effort and the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and was launched in Feb. 2021 at three prisons and the Warren County Regional Jail.
The program has now expanded to all 14 prisons and an additional 18 local county jails. As of April 3, 2023, there have been 1,785 ID cards issued.
“We are dedicated to assisting the justice-involved population in restarting their lives upon release, but our efforts are more successful when community partners join in the mission,” DOC Commissioner Cookie Crews said. “The support we have received from state agencies and the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce has been invaluable in growing the identification program and allowing more Kentuckians to live productive and healthy lives.”
In addition to IDs, DOC works to obtain the inmate’s social security card and birth certificate to ensure they are released with all the documentation needed to find housing, healthcare, education and financial resources.
Additionally, these documents allow newly released inmates with the tools needed to join Kentucky’s workforce quicker and easier. When these Kentuckians are able to obtain stable jobs soon after release, recidivism rates and addiction are reduced, and public safety is enhanced while contributing to the commonwealth’s recent record-breaking economic growth.
Building a Better, Safer Kentucky through Second Chances
Due to the leadership of the Beshear-Coleman administration, the Kentucky economy is booming, with a number of sectors showing growth through investments and job creation. By working together, the commonwealth is building a better Kentucky full of opportunity for all Kentuckians; and the state’s commitment to offering second chances remains a priority.
On his third day in office, Gov. Beshear restored voting rights to Kentuckians who had completed their sentences for nonviolent, nonsexual offenses. Now more than 187,000 Kentuckians’ rights have been restored.
In Nov. 2022, the Governor announced two new programs aimed at boosting workforce participation by helping the justice-involved population who have paid their debt to society and are leaving prison to find meaningful employment. The administration in partnership with the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce has launched the Prison-to-Work Pipeline. Employment is one of the largest barriers the justice-involved population faces upon release from incarceration. The Prison-to-Work Pipeline works to inform employers of the benefits of hiring this population while simultaneously preparing the individual to be placed in a job beneficial to them and their family. The administration is also offering a virtual learning job skills program. By learning to overcome challenges through this virtual learning experience, inmates will develop the resiliency, perseverance and confidence needed to overcome real-life obstacles and help them answer job interview questions.
Additionally, Reentry Services staff facilitate reentry simulation events for various groups including stakeholders, correctional employees and those studying criminal justice. These live simulations allow participants to experience real life scenarios focused on the complex challenges and barriers the justice-involved may face upon returning to society. Participants receive a fictional backstory and then work to find housing, transportation and employment in addition to attending treatment and reporting to their parole officer. These simulations offer a glimpse into the challenges the justice-involved face when they are released from incarceration and work to create a greater understanding and awareness for participants.
In Sept. 2021, Gov. Beshear announced that through a collaborative effort between state government, health care and the business community, the commonwealth had launched a new initiative to help employers address addiction, boost hiring and retention and support employees in the workplace. The initiative, known as the Kentucky Transformational Employment Program, is the result of legislation signed into law by the Governor following the passage of Senate Bill 191 in 2020.
Kentucky has trained 4,000 business leaders across the commonwealth as second chance employers, provided 227 technical workshops and held 435 second chance employment job fairs, representing 7,500 jobs. One way is through the Strategic Initiative for Transformational Employment, a program where the state contracted to provide job specialists at 12 career centers located throughout the commonwealth to link individuals recently released from prison or in recovery from addiction with available jobs.
The administration is also working to prevent re-incarceration through a statewide project that provides transportation at no charge to former inmates so they can access substance abuse recovery facilities, medical appointments, job interviews, educational courses, probation and parole meetings and employment. DOC is partnering with KYTC to serve nearly 50,000 Kentuckians, currently under the supervision of probation or parole, who can utilize this project.
In April 2021, the Governor signed House Bill 497 into law to remove barriers to reentry by tasking DOC with issuing certificates of employability to those who successfully complete programs while incarcerated. In addition, the bill incentivizes employers by providing liability protections and further encourages other important reentry supports such as IDs and better access to health care for people leaving incarceration. For a statement from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce on HB 497 click here.
A few years ago, DOC received a grant from the Kentucky Opioid Response Effort to train four additional reentry staff to become certified job specialists. The DOC’s Division of Reentry Services now employs 11 reentry employment specialists who are working with individuals scheduled to be released from prisons and linking them with available employment opportunities. Recently, DOC received additional grant funding to hire seven jail reentry coordinators to assist inmates being released from select local county jails who have a DOC contracted substance abuse program.
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