Could Second Chance hiring fix the labor shortage?
Second chance hiring could be a way to provide opportunity to justice involved people and help build a resilient workforce. According to the Chamber of Commerce, one in three adults (about 77 million Americans) have a criminal record. That’s a lot of qualified applicants knocked out of the job market with an estimated $78-$87 billion […]
Second Chance Act of North Carolina
In 2020, The Second Chance Act was passed unanimously by the NC General Assembly. The bill expands eligibility for expunging multiple nonviolent misdemeanor convictions, and automates expungement of certain dismissed or “not guilty” charges. The Second Chance Act also allows prosecutors to petition for expungement for dismissed or “not guilty” charges and “youthful convictions”. Why […]
What impacts recidivism?
Each year, 22,000 individuals are released from North Carolina Department of Public Safety facilities. What it shown to have the greatest impact on recidivism? Individualized re-entry plans. Successful re-entry begins with planning well in advance of a person’s release date. Changed Choices clients begin working on successful re-entry as soon as they become a client. […]
How are federal clients released?
Release from federal prison is a multi-step process:
Walking into freedom
This morning, she walks out of the door for the last time. Over the last two years, she worked diligently to set herself up for success. What does successful re-entry look like? The next few days, weeks, and months will hold a lot of “firsts”: How can we create a welcoming community for residents navigating […]
Is housing really accessible?
Safe and stable housing upon release is vital for successful re-entry, yet returning citizens face many obstacles. The average two bedroom apartment in Charlotte, NC runs $1600/month with 1 month’s rent for deposit. Rental agents often run background checks on new applicants, and the current process can leave returning citizens out of the rental market. […]
What’s a Release Card?
Rounding out our January series from Prison Policy Initiative, what’s a Release Card? When a person leaves a correctional facility, they often receive their funds, which include wages earned while incarcerated, support from family members, or money they possessed when arrested, on a pre-paid debit card. While pre-paid debit cards are common, it might be […]
Seeing the change in all of us
Alisha is one of our newest Ruth Snyder Home residents. The week she arrived, we went to Camino’s thrift store to get some clothes and then on to the food bank for pickup. At the food bank, the distribution workers were efficient and well organized, but the small parking lot was a hot mess. Getting […]
Voting Rights Restored…
I want to share this impact story with you. It illustrates how you are making a difference investing your time, talent, prayers and treasure. On most Tuesday evenings some of our staff, volunteers and clients meet at the Ruth Snyder Re-Entry home for dinner followed by Bible study. A few weeks ago, there were […]
The power of film in sharing the incarceration journey
Last week, Changed Choices partnered with Matthews United Methodist Church in hosting a showing of The Sentence. This documentary gives a behind the scenes view of the impact of mandatory minimum sentencing on women and families. Our audience engaged with powerful questions, and eager to hear more. Being Free, by Roadtrip Nation, follows three system-impacted […]