In 2021 Butler University Professor of Economics, Kathy Paulson Gjerde, PhD published a ground-breaking study that compared the work histories of employees without a record to those who had a criminal background and found no statistical difference in job performance between the two groups. With this evidence in hand UNITE INDY has been able to sign up 45 employers who are hiring some of the thousands of those released from Central Indiana jails and prisons every year. But more information is needed.

A new study is in the planning stages, to statically determine the longitudinal impact of those reentrants who experienced mentoring and transportation services to and from work during their period of reengagement into the general population. Without reliable transportation, it is almost impossible to get and keep a job, which is the backbone of successful reentry, and without a mentor to assist with the pressure of decision-making and the constant need for reliable advice, reentry can be doomed from the start.

Words are great. Observation is good. But facts and numbers provide a solid foundation on which to build improved outcomes for those who want a better life after incarceration.

Reentrants Apply For Jobs Through UNITE INDY At OPHS Job Fair!

First, UI's Jim Cotterill takes the time to shake hands and introduce himself to each reentrant who is looking for a good job. Then he walks them through the online registration process to apply for jobs on our SecondChanceIndy.com site. Pay rates are between $15 and $23 per hour on the site, and many employers offer bonuses for good attendance and other benefits. Or, reentrants can apply to go through Catapult's training at $15 per hour, and receive certification to qualify them for higher paying manufacturing jobs. So far, 100 percent of those who have completed the training have been hired. Says Jim, "Spending the day at a job fair is not glamorous work, but it is invigorating to know that you're helping to change a life." Congrats to the Office of Public Health & Safety, and all the employers who took part in the job fair!

Tiera Nicole, founder of Lady Justice and I, met with UNITE INDY’s Doug Evans recently to discuss her efforts to “elevate and uplift the voices and stories of those directly impacted by the Criminal Justice System.” Founded in 2021, it is her hope that through advocacy and storytelling, her organization can positively impact the criminal justice system and the outcomes of those in prison. The organization is currently focused on capturing the stories of Black youth living in central Indianapolis, aged 13 to 21, but will accept story submissions from other Black individuals who do not meet the age requirement. Click Here to share your story!