Justice-involved adults gain job skills during incarceration
Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
BEDFORD – Three justice-involved adults who recently completed training in welding are available for hire.
The three participated in programs while incarcerated with the Indiana Department of Correction and will be returning to Greene, Lawrence and Washington counties. They received certification in welding AWS MIG Structural D1.1 through programs taught by Ivy Tech Community College.
Sherm Johnson, executive director of Offender Employment Development at the IDOC, said all offenders who complete job skills training are vetted by the DOC and have shown a willingness to make a change upon their release. In addition to skills training, they have completed a re-entry program where they learned soft skills and resume writing.
The DOC launched the job training in 2017 to address the shortage of welders and also because justice-involved adults are less likely to re-offend if they are employed. Since the program began, more than 750 offenders have completed welding training, said Johnson.
“One of the reasons we offer welding is there is such a high demand for welders,” Johnson said. “The good thing about manufacturing and production jobs like welding and CNC is that companies need workers.”
Johnson said the 2021 IDOC recidivism rate for offenders released in 2018 was 33.2%. That rate is 15 points lower for offenders who completed the job training program.
A second chance
Johnson said Indiana employers are willing to give these men and women a second chance.
“The smaller companies, especially, are far more open to giving these workers opportunities. These individuals going through these programs want to do better when they get out,” he said.
The average wage for certified welders in Indiana is $17.38 an hour.
Hiring information
To inquire about these potential employees, contact Sherm Johnson at [email protected] or 317-234-2960.