Shelby County Government aims to decrease recidivism with jobs website for ex-offenders
An ongoing effort by Shelby County Government to create opportunities for people with criminal histories has taken its next step, with the county launching a web page of job offerings for felons.
“Regardless of your arrest or conviction history, Shelby County Government is looking for individuals who are ready to put their talents to work for our community,” reads the website.
In 2020, Shelby County, with the backing of Mayor Lee Harris, passed a “ban the box” resolution asking about arrest or conviction histories on applications for jobs with Shelby County government.
But some jobs are still unavailable to people with criminal histories, particularly if that history is “substantially related to potential job duties” or blocked by state law.
The new website will give ex-offenders “confidence” as they apply for specific positions, said DeAndre Brown, executive director of the county’s Office of Reentry.
“When you have an open enrollment for any position, we’re not sure of what jobs we actually qualify for,” said Brown, who himself is an ex-offender. “You go through the process of applying just to get denied because you wouldn’t even be considered in the first place because your conviction excluded you.”
Most of the jobs currently listed on the website are in health services, including clerical specialists, an administrative technician and a supervisor for pollution control. Other jobs include a steam and refrigeration engineer in support services.
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Postings will be updated monthly and link back to the county’s general job site.
The website also urges all employers to join Shelby County Government in hiring ex-offenders, pointing out that 95% of all state prisoners will eventually be released and that recidivism rates drop by 20% when formerly incarcerated people are employed.
“The invitation to follow our lead is very important, that Shelby County Government is now leading the effort of getting people back into society, leading by example,” Brown said.
Since September 2020, Shelby County Government has hired 74 people with criminal histories, said Jerri Green, senior policy adviser for Harris.
“That’s good, that’s 74 people we’re giving second changes to, but we know we can do better and that’s what this effort and this website is about,” Green said. “We’re hoping this website gives them not just a chance to a job but to a career path and a future.”
As a former public defender, Green knows that many people who get out of prison may think they can’t work for the government. This website makes it clear that they can, including making the available jobs easy to access.
So far, Green has shared the website with Pretrial Services and the Office of Reentry, but also plans to share it with other departments and nonprofits.
The statistic posted on the website that most stands out to Green is the 95%: that 95% of all state prisoners will eventually be released.
“We have to make a plan for what success looks like for them on the other side of that, once they’ve served their time,” Green said. “We have to do our part to make sure they don’t go back in.”
The job postings as well as information about the county’s initiative are available at www.worktobreakthecycle.com.
Katherine Burgess covers government and religion. She can be reached at katherine.burgess@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter @kathsburgess.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Shelby County Government launches jobs website for ex-offenders
