To encourage lower recidivism rates and help former nonviolent felons find employment, Governor Andy Beshear signed an executive order to establish the Governor’s Council of Second Chance Employers at Thursday’s Team Kentucky Update.
The council is composed of 15 members which include business and community leaders and cabinet members. According to a news release from Beshear’s Office the council will educate employers and local communities on the benefits of second-chance hiring, advocate for laws and investments to improve reentry outcomes and develop best practices for effective reentry.
For the past three years, Beshear says Kentucky has had some of its lowest recidivism rates. For that he thanks addiction treatment programs available in and outside of jails as well as the increase in employment reentry efforts.
Beshear says obtaining a job can be the difference of a former felon re-offending or repairing their lives. While the council works to further reduce recidivism, Beshear says they will also be increasing the state’s labor workforce.
Along with the council, Beshear says more job training programs are set to come to state prisons. Beshear’s team is working establish Kentucky’s first cosmetology program in a prison and they are also looking forward to establishing other vocational training opportunities so that upon release former nonviolent felons can find work.
Beshear’s full Team Kentucky Update is available on YouTube.
Photo courtesy of Governor Andy Beshear on Facebook