I was at San Quentin last month speaking to about-to-be-released prisoners about the career center where I work (Oakland Private Industry Council) and I will be at Santa Rita county jail next month for Career Day.
Michael Jackson, author of How to Do Good After Prison: A Handbook for Successful Reentry was interviewed today on Work with Marty Nemko.
Nemko asked what hope does an ex-offender have in this job market when so many accomplished, educated people can’t get jobs? What hope is there for someone with little education, spotty work history and, say, a learning disability? The kinds of jobs ex-offenders would get — if they could get a job — would likely be low-level and minimum wage — not enough to live on. What reasons do people have not to re-offend?
Here are some answers I’ve heard from folks I’ve worked with:
- “I’m tired of looking over my shoulder — for the police or for a peer who wants me dead.”
- “I want my kids/nieces/nephews to be able to look up to me, not be ashamed of me. I was gone for much of their lives; I want to be there now. I want to be a good role model.”
- “I’m too old to do this anymore.”
- “I realize everything I’ve done has brought me to where I am and only I can change things.”
- “I have the power to help others: to be a drug counselor or social service worker helping re-entry people like myself. Or warning away people younger than me.”
- “I have something that inspires me to do better: my faith/my role models/my ethnic tradition.”
- “I don’t want to go back to prison — it’s overcrowded, unpleasant, violent.”
- “I want my freedom; I want to make my own decisions about daily life.”
Other tips from re-entry and career experts are:
- If you need drug treatment, get it.
- If you need retraining or career help, get it. [Go to community college, adult education, or a One Stop Career Center.]
- Don’t go back to your old neighborhood if it will cause you to re-offend.
- Take advantage of community programs specifically for ex-offenders, such as the Northern California Service League, America Works, Clean Slate. [But don't rely on everything to be erased just because it's expunged.]
- Consider self-employment.
- Ask career experts (such as at a One Stop) which employers are known to be ex-offender-friendly.
- Know what’s on your rap sheet; be prepared to talk about it briefly.
- Look toward non-profits for employment; they tend not to pay very well, so they might be less picky. [In re-entry advocacy organizations, such as All of Us or None, being an ex-offender is a BFOQ -- a bona fide occupational qualification.]
Finally, regarding those college people who can’t get a job: Don’t let that discourage you. They are all going after very few white collar openings that are being offshored. Stay away from those jobs and head toward the skilled trades:
“The dearth of skilled tradespeople has become so critical in society that even the government has recognized the problem and has begun to implement programs to encourage apprenticeships.” (National Post)
Jackson’s most useful tip was to remember that, wherever you land, you’re not stuck there forever. You should always be plotting your next move. Live one day at a time:
“Do what you have to do to stay out of prison today so you can do better tomorrow.
maureenpnelson
