i t’s difficult getting back on your feet when you have a record. There are many roadblocks to getting a new job, but two issues, in particular, stand out. For one, employers may simply choose not to hire someone who is an ex-offender. Secondly, getting out of a structured environment such as a prison, where one is fed and housed and taken care of, can feel daunting when suddenly released into a world where there is no structure—at least, not yet. So, where do they start? How do they start over? And what if they have no particular job skills? Maryland’s Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation website states that Maryland’s statewide re-entry Initiative provides equal opportunity and access to employment services. For starters, Northwest American Job Center at Mondawmin Mall in Baltimore focuses on those integrating back into society, providing help with resumes, job training, and even information on starting an expungement process. The Apprenticeship Career Training Pilot Program for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals offers incentives for employers to provide on-the-job training for employees. The initiative provides a grant (maximum $1,000) for the employer to take the time to train–and gain–a valuable employee— and to take that leap of faith. The Maryland Workforce Exchange (MWE) is a portal for those who are highly skilled and seeking employment, as well as for employers looking for help. Through the MWE, Maryland Labor Staff connects employers with highly skilled candidates for their business. In addition, Maryland Labor Staff introduces returning citizens who are qualified and “employment ready” to those employers interested in hiring from the returning citizen population. People on board, called reentry navigators, provide help on both sides: they help to reintegrate returning citizens by aiding in job search and training resources, and they reach out to local businesses to advocate for the now-prepared returning citizen while addressing questions and concerns employers may have, and sharing information on grant opportunities, as an incentive to hiring the returning citizen. Another incentive for the employer is the Federal Bonding Program, UNICOR, which provides a $5,000 non-
transferrable fidelity insurance bond at no cost to the employer. Federal inmates must have been employed by UNICOR for at least six months during incarceration. Workforce Development
provides Correctional Education— training while incarcerated, so clients will be prepared when they return to “the real world.” Correctional Education provides a wide variety of studies, from architectural CADD to automotive, carpentry, hospitality, and much more. Maryland’s Re-entry Initiative also includes staff training, including OWDS (Offender Workforce Development Specialist),
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