(ROCKVILLE) – Indiana Correctional Industries (ICI), a division of the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC), in cooperation with the Televerde Company, and Oakland City University hosted an Employer Day at the Rockville Correctional Facility (RCF).
ICI coordinates the IDOC’s commitment to return trained and job ready offenders to Indiana’s communities upon release from incarceration. Additionally Oakland City University provides educational opportunities in several disciplines including Building Trades and Culinary Arts. These approaches result in offenders with hands-on job and life skills training available for hire upon release. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Televerde specializes in training Indiana and Arizona offender workforces in Call Center operations. RCF is home to one of those Call Centers.
Attendees at the Employer Day event were able to take part in a panel discussion featuring offenders representing Televerde, and Oakland City University programs. This interactive exchange was eye-opening for the employers, and the offenders as each group was enlightened concerning offender challenges, and employer benefits associated with hiring former felons.
IDOC Employer Days are opportunities for businesses to come behind the fence and see first-hand how offenders are being prepared for success after release with a life free of recidivism. By releasing offenders with job skills who will become taxpayers instead of tax drains Indiana communities are safer, and the financial burden on all citizens is decreased.
