Brokers Implicated in Job Scam Convicted and Sentenced to Jail
Crafting a Second Chance: Empowering Inmates with Job Skills within Prisons
It's all about giving a fresh start to the 650 inmates at Dresden's JVA Hammerweg. With the prison, employment agency, and Jobcenter Dresden joining forces, these incarcerated individuals will be better equipped for the working world even before release.
Prison Director Rebecca Stange sheds light on the mission, stating, "We're committed to speeding up their reintegration and getting them on the job market post-release. Pre-release counseling sessions are to begin six months before release."
Regular meetings with job placement officers within the prison walls are also on the agenda. Gerlinde Hildebrand, head of the Dresden employment agency, explains, "We're open to every potential worker, even in the face of the current skills shortage. If they don't start out skilled, they can certainly become so."
While the inmates may lack Internet access to search for job opportunities online, the placement officers bring paper forms to the prison, bridging the gap.
Building on an already established cooperation, the new agreement aims to push the support to the next level.
However, it's a steep climb for these inmates: just around 30% of prisoners at Hammerweg possess a high school diploma, and even fewer have vocational training. But, while incarcerated, these inmates can earn diplomas and learn trades like baking, building cleaning, or metalworking.
Each orderly release ups the chances of a life on the straight and narrow. According to Hildebrand, employment agencies will hold back their candidate's criminal history due to data protection laws. "Disclosing this info during interviews isn't appropriate, and it breaks the rules," she clarifies.
Job placement programs within prisons like Hammerweg play a vital role in enhancing ex-prisoners' employability, reducing reoffending, and bolstering public safety. While facing several challenges such as insufficient resources, employer bias, low wages, coordination issues, and broader social barriers, these programs stand as a promising route to successful rehabilitation and community reintegration[1][4][5].
[1] National Institute of Justice[4] Prison Policy Initiative[5] Inside to Outside Jobs Strategy, Victoria, Australia
- The job skills training within prisons like Dresden's JVA Hammerweg, including education and self-development in areas such as baking, building, cleaning, or metalworking, are essential for career development of inmates as they strive for job search in the general news arena.
- With employment agencies taking strides to hide a candidate's criminal history as per data protection laws during job interviews, inmates who have completed their prison terms and secured jobs may experience reduced stigma and improved chances of career development and general news exposure.
- As part of the efforts to reduce crime and justice issues, job placement officers within the prison walls continue to offer guidance and support in job search and career development for inmates, addressing broader social barriers while overcoming challenges like insufficient resources, employer bias, low wages, and coordination issues.
