Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2010, $692,096)
The Second Chance Act Technology Careers Training Demonstration Projects for Incarcerated Adults and Juveniles is designed to provide resources to states, units of local government, and federally recognized tribes for career training in the area of technology for offenders. Grantees must identify a process for assessment and selection of a specific subset of the population of offenders incarcerated in a prison, jail, juvenile facility, juvenile camp, juvenile community-based program, or juvenile residential facility. Offenders must participate in project activities during the three-year period prior to release into the community. This Program furthers the Department of Justice commitment to providing services and programs to help facilitate the successful integration of offenders as they return to their communities.
The Technology Career Trainings must include a curriculum that helps participants acquire and develop skills needed to build potentially successful careers in technology-related fields. The training curriculum must identify necessary skills and competencies, provide real-world work experience, teach transferable job skills and soft skills to help prepare for post-release reentry and employment, and provide resources to support training in technology areas. The specific type of technology-based job(s) incorporated into the training program is at the discretion of each grantee. However, the grantee must be able to justify the selected training as technology-related. Some examples of technology-based field include, but are not limited, to the following: computer assisted design in engineering; information technology; Braille transcription training and certification; wireless and broadband deployment; technician positions; computer hardware/software; and computer science and programming. Where applicable, the trainings should result in a recognized certificate, degree, or license that indicates a level of mastery and competence in the selected technology focus area. The technology career trainings must restrict access to the Internet by incarcerated persons, as appropriate, to ensure public safety.
The Southern NV Workforce Investment Board/Workforce Connections will use the FY 2010 Second Chance Act funds to continue funding "The GET OUT" program. The project consists of six primary components: 1) identifying inmates within 12 to 18 months of release who would likely benefit from participation; 2) providing photo voltaic technology training to those inmates prior to release; 3) providing counseling and guidance as the inmates undergo training; 4) working with local employers to develop jobs for trainees prior to release; 5) providing mentoring and supportive services while the former inmates search for or begin employment; and 6) monitoring each participant after they find a job to ensure they remain employable and employed, and do not return to the justice system.
CA/NCF