AUSTIN, Texas — Securing a job is hard enough as is, but for those with a criminal record, it can be especially more difficult.
The Travis County Sheriff’s Office and Austin Community College (ACC) are hoping to bridge the gap with a new pilot program.
ACC leaders said the program has been more than two years in the making and offers inmates – who will be students – eight courses that will last one-to-two weeks. Students who are released will be able to finish their courses at ACC’s campus.
They will learn about business, office procedures, data entry and other needed skills that will allow them to tap into administrative roles.
“We want them back in our community, but we want them to be productive. We want them to give back,” said Deborah Benavidez, the Department Chair/Associate Professor of the ACC Office of Administration & Technology.
Currently, there are 20 people in the program, which started last week. Benavidez said they hope to expand, and noted that there was already a waiting list.
“It gives each student the opportunity to gain highly sought after skills, increasing their chances for employment after release,” said Benavidez.
Sam Greer, who is ACC’s Employer Outreach & Experiential Learning Programs Director, said the way inmates were selected for the program was based on if they met academic and jail classification requirements. Those who earned their GED through the jail were also considered.
Greer is working with employers in the Austin area to help students find employment once they complete the program. There is also an effort being made to create and curate an apprenticeship program so students can also earn while they’re studying.
Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez said the goal is for those who enter the program to gain motivation and not end up back in jail.
“We want them to be able to leave and have a career insight or a career at least a vision for a career,” said Hernandez, “But more importantly, to me is I want them to have a vision of something much bigger, something much better.”
Tuition will be covered by a grant fund through the deLaski Family Foundation. Benavidez said if students want to continue their education past the program, they are working on obtaining other grants to help them beyond their release.
However, students will be able to explore financial aid and scholarship options.
“It’s important to us to invest now so that people have a big chance,” said Hernandez, “And to add to that, it has been a personal goal of mine to have this program in correctional facilities.”