MontCo Seeks Grant for Inmate Re-Entry Program
Montgomery County Commissioners approved an application for $185,000 in federal grant funds for the program.
Montgomery County Commissioners are seeking a grant to fund a 12-month pilot program for the Montgomery County Correctional Facility to help inmates find gainful employment after being released.
According to a press release from Montgomery County, 62 percent of inmates in Montgomery County return to prison.
“The recidivism rate, while better than the national average, is too high,” said Josh Shapiro, chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. “And we need to do something about it.”
This week, the commissioners approved the application for a $185,000 federal grant that would supplement $270,00 in state workforce development funds.
The program will include job readiness, classroom instruction, individual career counseling, assessment and training, job placement and employment retention support, according to Warden Julio Algarin.
“The more we can do to help the people be successful when they leave prison, to be able to reacclimatize to life, to get a job, to be able to care for their families and to avoid having to go back to prison, that’s the goal of this initiative,” Shapiro said.
The program will begin with 15 prescreened participants, and will add participants every quarter going forward.
P BRENS
6:35 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
geta grip shapiro...why is the recidIvism quota too high....?????? duh??? r u serious..............find another way to use taxpayers money.
growyourown
7:17 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
these programs exist now and have for some time and have made very little difference. most of them dont want to work, and section 8 and foods stamps makes there really be no reason to work Dont waste tax payers money
Lorraine613
9:44 am on Sunday, February 10, 2013
Great! Using more taxpaper's money for these bums. I am so angry! Does it occur to anyone that these criminals don't want to work. They want to continue doing the same things (example, drugs) that landed them there in the first place. This is after learning that Montgomery County Victim Service's budget has been cut drastically! Really? What is wrong with this picture. How about changing Act 84 so that the victim can collect restitution while they are in prison. How about putting money into means of going after these bums who owe victims their restitution. They get free lawyers for being criminals while the victims cannot get free lawyers to help them. How is it that that these criminals (like burglers) can know where the victim lives but their information on getting out of prison is "confidential". Unbelievable! This system needs TO CHANGE FAST!
lisa
10:01 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
Lorraine 613 u have no idea what ur talking about. There are some of us who have been in jail or had drug problems who used the programs the county had to help themselves. So until u walk in my shoes or anyone elses keep your comments to yourself. Yes there are some people who abuse the system but. Some truly want to better themselves. It is people like you it what is wrong with this world.