Posted on 07/14/2012 6:55:00 AM PDT by kevcol
Among the dozen or so felons hired by Lou Ann Amstutz and her husband Andy over the years, not every worker has been a model employee.
But never has there been a workplace safety or theft problem, Lou Ann Amstutz said.
"The majority of them are so thankful to have a job that they're willing to go the extra mile because they're so appreciative that you've taken an interest in them, period," said Amstutz, chief executive officer and vice president of operations for Alpha Machining and Manufacturing.
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The million dollars in grant money will be going to the Community Service Council of Tulsa, one of only 18 such awards given out of 189 applications. The organization already helps felons find work, and received a $300,000 federal grant a few years ago for similar efforts focused on helping ex-offenders find employment.
The new grant money will focus on an effort tentatively called Tulsa Reentry One-Stop to be focused in north Tulsa, according to an abstract describing the proposal.
(Excerpt) Read more at urbantulsa.com ...
Get out the vote!
So, before I look for work in Tulsa, what pays better, murder in the first degree or manslaughter after rape?
Perhaps... But then...
“Any kind of sex offense is pretty much just null and void,” Nelson said, explaining that most companies “if they do a background check, they more often than not are going to steer away from those folks.”
Get ready for your friendly repairman to be casing your house, raping and robbing you and your friendly newspapers and polticans to hide it and play it down. All that matters is that criminals are happy. We have been through this before.
Perhaps... But then...
“Any kind of sex offense is pretty much just null and void,” Nelson said, explaining that most companies “if they do a background check, they more often than not are going to steer away from those folks.”
So what is the cost per job?
“According to the abstract for the Tulsa project, the goal is to help 400 ex-offenders over two years, with a target of 60 percent employment for the group.”
politician.
Until they’re sued by the person or the gov’t for not hiring them.
And the honest law abiding citizen who can’t get a job these people are being helped to get one?
I'm thinkin' cleaning roadsides, breaking rocks, making license plates.
Although I’m not in favor of tax dollars being used for this sort of program, I do think the principle isn’t wrong. If we’re not going to keep everyone who has ever committed a crime in jail for life, then they have to do something - like get a job - when they are released.
Christian ministries that work with inmates and with former inmates have many successes - people who live productive lives and do not commit additional crimes. They also have some failures, but that doesn’t mean we can afford to write off everyone who has ever gone to jail.
“So...the family of a rape victim (for example) not only has to pay (through taxes) for the perp’s legal defense and prison housing/food/medical, but now also has the honor of paying for their job training and placement - starting 3 months prior to their release from prison.”
On the other hand, that felon will collect welfare, food stamps, live in a homeless shelter and will probably commit more crimes which will cost the taxpayer even more.
If they committed a crime and paid their debt to society, I would prefer they have work and try to get their life back than worry about the recidivsm rate.
minimally
I don’t disagree entirely, but I don’t think spending $1,000,000 in tax payer $$$ to employ (a ‘success’ target) 240 convicted felons will: keep them in those jobs, prevent them from committing crimes again anyhow, and collecting welfare/stamps regardless. Also, what if they reach the ‘60%’ target use that to justify rolling this thing out nationally? Another tax payer funded and bloated state institution, more opportunity for fraud, waste and creative numbers to justify it.
Well ain't that just special?
Hey, that's great news. Bring on the serial killers and the mass murderers.
Get ready for politicians to rant that your Saturday diy project is what’s holding the job market down.
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