More Chances Sought For ​“2nd Chance” Society

Hartford—John Greer Jr. came here looking for an opportunity. He wants to start a home improvement business. And he wants to provide jobs for formerly incarcerated people like him.

Greer, a New Haven resident, joined re-entry advocates from around the state at the Capitol Thursday to talk about how Connecticut might further address the problem of recidivism and overcome the challenges of employment for the formerly incarcerated. The roundtable discussion was hosted by State Rep. Brandon McGee Jr. who represents part of Hartford and Windsor.

McGee is the sponsor of a bill that would have the Commission on Equity and Opportunity take a year to study the efficacy of offering tax incentives to employers who hire people who were previously incarcerated.

In a state that has made strides in reducing its prison population and taken steps to remove barriers to employment, advocates said that Connecticut still has a way to go if it truly wants to become a ​“Second Chance Society.” For many in the room Thursday, the problem boiled down to shrinking resources for the not-for-profit network that helps people get and stay employed, and employers willing to look beyond a person’s criminal past to give them a second chance.

Though Connecticut has ​“banned the box” inquiring about criminal records on employment applications and provides certificates of employability, advocates said finding jobs and keeping them remain a significant hurdle for many with criminal records. Other factors that trip people up: child support debt and lack of stable housing or reliable transportation to work.

Tony Judkins, program manager for a state fatherhood initiative, pointed to an example of a young father of five from New Haven who had secured a job with a temp agency. He did so well on the job that the agency offered him full time employment. But weeks later when it was discovered that he had a criminal record, he was let go on the spot.

“The issue is he did the work,” Judkins said. To fire the man for no other reason than his criminal past is not only bad for the man, but also his children, he added.

Barry Diamond, administrator of the People Reentering Into Doing Entrepreneurship (PRIDE) program, said with so much focus on job readiness and employability, teaching someone to create a job for themselves is often lost in the conversation. He pointed out that employers who have been through the criminal system understand the challenges that people face when they get out.

“They have no problem hiring people [with a record],” he said.

Greer agreed with that sentiment. He said prior to his felony conviction for which he served 18 months he worked in construction, and he’s been able to return to that work. But it occurred to him that he could help some of the men he met, who will need to find employment when they get out, if he started his own business. The hurdle? His conviction could prevent him from getting licensed.

And that is just one of the any number of hurdles that the formerly incarcerated might face when trying to move on.

Some additional suggestions that came from the meeting included helping employers establish a better connection with reentry programs that follow through not just with getting someone employed, but with assisting the employer in retaining the employee.

Pam Linder, program coordinator for re-entry services at Easter Seals/Goodwill Industries in New Haven, pointed out that resources are still a challenge. She pointed out that a program that her organization provided that helped people work on the skills it takes to not only get a job, but keep it — punctuality, interpersonal skills and how to take criticism — ended when the funding for it did.

Easter Seals/Goodwill Industries has joined forces with the City of New Haven and other reentry organizations in the city to start the Warren Kimbro Reentry Project (WKRP), whose workers will visit prisons to help New Haveners prepare for the return to society.

WKRP Project Manager Earl Bloodworth told his fellow reentry professionals that if Connecticut is going to be a real Second Chance Society it must figure out a collaborative and sustainable pathway back into mainstream society for the formerly incarcerated. He also said it’s going to take not only funding but legislative solutions that remove obstacles.

“We can’t be a Second Chance Society if we’re still dumping people off in New Haven in their orange jump suit with bus pass,” Bloodworth said.

Following is a status report on bills of particular interest to New Haven before the state legislature this session:

The 2017 Agenda

Bill #	Status	Summary	Sponsors
SB11/ HB5539	Committee Denied	Would legalize, tax recreational use of marijuana.	Candelaria Dillon Lemar Walker Porter et al
SB 17	Committee Approved	Would make certain undocumented immigrant students (DREAMers) eligible for state college financial aid.	Looney
HB 5434	Committee Approved	Would have CT join with other states to elect the President based on popular, rather than Electoral College, vote.	Winfield, Porter Albis Elliott D’Agostino et al.
HB 5458, HB 6058	Committee Approved	Would establish electronic tolls on state highways.	Genga
HB 5575/HB 7126	Passed Senate	Would regulate companies such as Uber and Lyft.	Scanlon
HB 5589	Passed House	Would expand disclosure requirements for contributions to campaign funds.	Dillon Lemar D’Agostino Elliott et al.
HB 5591	Passed House	Would require equal pay for employees doing comparable work.	Dillon Walker Lemar Albis D’Agostino Elliott et al.
HB 5703	Committee Denied	Would have CT enter into an agreement with other states to limit ​“poaching” of each other’s businesses.	Lemar
HJ 13/HJr 95	Passed House	Would amend the state constitution to permit early voting.	Lemar
HJ 16	In Commitee	Would amend the state constitution to permit absentee voting for all voters.	Lemar
SB 1/HB 6212	Committee Approved	Would require employers to provide paid family and medical leave for their employees.	Looney
SB 2	Committee Approved	Would make the education funding formula more equitable.	Duff
SB 8	Committee Denied	Would allow municipalities to adopt a 0.5% sales tax.	Looney
SB 10/HB 5743	Passed Senate	Would strengthen hate crime laws.	Winfield
SB 13/HB 6208/HB 6456	Committee Approved	Would increase the minimum wage.	Looney Winfield et al. Albis Candelaria D’Agostino Elliott Lemar Paolillo Porter Walker
SB 137	Committee Denied	Would expand birth-to-three and provide universal pre-school, among other things.	Gerratana
SJ 5/HJ 1	Passed House	Would amend the state constitution to create a ​“lock-box” for transportation funding.	Duff
HB 5588	Committee Denied	Would limit certain bond allocations.	Dillon Lemar Albis Walker Elliott et al.
HB 5912HB 6127	Committee Denied	Would establish a 1‑cent/ounce tax on sugared beverages.	Lemar Elliott et al.
HB 6554	Committee Denied	Would tax carried interest as ordinary income.	Porter Albis Lemar Elliott Winfield Candelaria Dillon D’Agostino et al.
HB 5831	Committee Denied	Would provide bonding for transitional housing for NH female ex- offenders.	Porter Candelaria Lemar Winfield Looney Paolillo
SB 631	Committee Denied	Would provide bonding to make structural improvements to the Shubert Theatre.	Winfield Looney Walker Porter Lemar Candelaria Paolillo
HB 6863	Committee Denied	Would authorize bonds for renovating the Barbell Club as a youth/ community center.	Canelaria Porter Paolillo Lemar Winfield
SB 649	Committee Approved	Would allow local building officials to impose fines for building w/o a permit.	Looney Winfield Walker Candelaria Lemar Porter Paolillo Et al.
SB 590/591	Committee Denied	Would limit police ccoperation w/Immigration and Customs Enforcement (590); establish an immigrant’s bill of rights	Winfield
SB 20	Committee Denied	Would require affordability to be considered in reviewing proposed health insurance rate hikes.	Looney
HB 6352	Committee Approved	Would establish a deposit system for car tires.	Ritter Gresko McCrory
HB 6901	Committee Denied	Would impose a surtax on large employers that pay an average wage less than $15/hour.	Elliott
HB 7278	Passed Senate	Would convey various parcels to New Haven, among other things.	Gov’t Administration and Elections