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| County approves job training for convicts |
| By Medill News Service |
| Published: 04/19/2004 |
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Ex-offenders will have a crack at jobs under a new training program approved last week by the Cook County Board. The Re-entry Employment Project will offer 100 persons who have served their time after one non-violent crime conviction a chance to acquire job skills as well as to serve a one-year internship with the county. Details of the program are still being worked out. Officials April 8 said they expect the program to be up and running by mid-June. During the internship portion of the program, participants will be considered entry-level employees and will receive the standard starting salary of about $25,000, health benefits and pension eligibility. Proponents believe this internship will serve as a gateway to employment for people who are otherwise overlooked in the job application process, and as a result, will help reduce Illinois state correctional facilities' 44 percent recidivism rate. The program will not cost the county any additional money, sponsors said. Local non-profit organizations that receive money through the federal Workforce Investment Act, among other sources, participated in the drafting of the ordinance. Many of these organizations, whose missions already involve the training of ex-offenders, have agreed to take on program participants at no additional charge to the county. |
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