Amanda Ramirez has been incarcerated at Robert E. Ellsworth Correctional Center for the last five years. Her biggest concern has been what is she going to do when she gets out in a few weeks.
While incarcerated, Ramirez completed a CNC training program the correctional center has with Gateway Technical College, and she has been applying for machine operator jobs at the newly opened job center within the facility.
“This was going to be my hardest obstacle,” Ramirez said about finding a job following her release. “To get back into the community and have a job, I think this is really a great opportunity.”
The job center at Ellsworth in Union Grove is the sixth center the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development has created in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. There are plans for another four job centers to open at different facilities and a mobile job center.
According to DOC officials, from 2018 to February 2020, 382 people at correctional facilities have received 3,209 services in the institution-based job centers. Of that number, 54 have interviewed for open jobs prior to their release.
“This is for my future; this is for my kids,” Ramirez said.
As employers struggle to find workers, state agencies are working to provide incarcerated people with resume resources, mock interviews and other assessments to help them reenter society.
“Prior to this, I kind of had a bleak outlook on leaving because I do have so many challenges,” said Tammy Schlapman, who has been incarcerated for roughly a year. “I think this kind of plants the seeds of hope that I’ll leave with a job or a good opportunity which will definitely give me a leg up going back into the community.”
Among the things the inmates learn is how to discuss their incarceration with potential employers.
“Instead of blatantly stating ‘this is my crime’ I explain myself, because I have a difficult one,” Ramirez said. “They can judge whether it’s ok for me to be there or not, or they want to help me or not help me… but with a lot of the factory jobs they can’t care what your background is. As long as you’re a good worker and have good work history, that’s what they’re looking for.”
The program has successfully lined up work for former Ellsworth inmates since it was started in April.
“It puts me at ease,” Ramirez said. “Knowing that they can get a job before getting out, and getting the same kind of job that I want with the same experience, it just gives me a reason to keep trying. To know that it’s possible and I won’t fall flat on my face.”
The state has a “moral obligation” to provide resources to people who are incarcerated to reduce their chances of going back to prison, said DOC secretary Kevin Carr.
“We lock up too many people for too long at too high of cost to the taxpayer with not enough in the way to show of results to improve our outcomes,” Carr said.
Amy Pechacek, secretary designee of DWD, said the state is aware of systemic issues upon a person’s release that contribute to people going back to prison.
“We know that the best antidote to recidivism for folks reentering into the community is a stable, well-paying job,” Pechacek said. “This is good for the individuals looking for a second chance, it’s good for communities, it’s good for employers, it’s good for our economy.”
One of the major issues is housing.
Schlapman said she will have temporary housing for 30 days after she’s released in the next few weeks “and then I’m on my own.”
“So, if (you) leave with a job, a lot of times you only get one paycheck in your first 30 days of working, so it’s huge,” Schlapman said.
Gov. Tony Evers has expressed interest to “ban the box” on employment applications which can disqualify a person from employment if they indicate they have been incarcerated, but no legislation has been passed.
Pechacek said employers are going to have to start looking at different workforce pools to find people they need to fill the jobs.
“I think the market is ultimately going to prevail,” Pechacek said. “With not enough actual individuals in this state to fill all of the job openings and with more baby boomers retiring year over year, employers are going to have to look at talent pools that historically they may not have embraced.”
For Cassandra Gelhar, who has been incarcerated for 3½ years, having these resources available to her is going to help her assimilate back into the community.
“I know everything is going to be so overwhelming when I get out,” Gelhar said. “Having this opportunity in here, before I get out, really helps me.”
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