The journey from prison back to society can be fraught with obstacles, particularly for women. Key among these challenges is finding employment, an essential step in rebuilding a life. However, a criminal record can pose significant barriers to securing a job.
In the last chapter of Beyond the Gates, we trace the steps of Mary Clifton as she transitions from life in prison to the pursuit of employment and a hopeful new beginning.
At Perryville prison in the Phoenix area, Mary Clifton, dressed in the standard orange attire, reflects on her past and her hopes for the future. “I was on drugs a lot of my life, so I didn’t really have a goal or a plan,” she shares. “But now that I’m here, I have more focus.”
The Televerde Foundation’s Career PATHS program at Perryville plays a crucial role in preparing women like Mary for reintegration into the workforce. The six-month initiative equips participants with valuable personal and professional skills.
“Learning all the things that I’ve been learning, business development and emotional intelligence, it’s just opened my eyes,” Mary remarks, hopeful for her release in three months.
Prioritizing Employment After Incarceration
Ray Bandin, re-entry coordinator at Arizona’s Department of Economic Security, highlights the state’s decade-long focus on career readiness for those re-entering society. The state encourages employers to hire people leaving prison.
“Most employers, once they give an opportunity to our clients that have been justice-involved, actually start opening up more doors because they soon realize that our clients tend to be more reliable and tend to show up at work and do an excellent job.”
Ray Bandin
Bandin notes that employment greatly reduces the likelihood of reoffending among former inmates. In Arizona, over 500 companies identify as second-chance employers, opening their doors to individuals with criminal records.
48 Hours Post-Incarceration
Shortly after her release in May, Mary Clifton is adapting to life outside Perryville. Now wearing casual clothes and with her hair down, she describes the contrast to prison life: “Yeah, it’s different in prison. You’re just like, plain and dull and you have to have your hair up and there’s the orange color.”
Mary is currently residing in a transitional home provided by the Televerde Foundation, where she can stay rent-free as she reestablishes herself. She recently applied for various positions at a local resort, following an interview conducted before her release.
Mary’s immediate goals include securing a phone, paying off fines, obtaining a car, and reapplying for her driver’s license. She also needs to apply for Medicaid and SNAP benefits while maintaining regular check-ins with her probation officer.
“So I have to have a weekly schedule for her. I have to have everything planned out, which is kind of hard to do because I don’t know this area,” Mary admits, acknowledging the pressure she feels.
Second-Chance Employers
Alison Rapping, CEO of Arouet, a nonprofit supporting women before and after incarceration, emphasizes the importance of preparing former inmates for productive societal roles. Arouet collaborates with second-chance employers to facilitate this transition.
However, many employers are hesitant to openly declare themselves as second-chance employers, fearing the perceived risk of hiring individuals with criminal records.
Kim Thomas, who served 30 years for second-degree murder, says, “I have spent every moment since that moment, every moment after that has been in service making amends, making atonement, doing good work and standing up for those who don’t have a voice.”
Thomas, now out of prison and working at Arouet, adds, “The fact that I paid my debt and it’s still not paid in most people’s eyes.”
Jessica Marone, another former inmate, also works at Arouet, assisting women in finding second-chance opportunities. She points out, “So by and large discrimination is illegal, but there’s one sect of people that it is 100% legal to discriminate against.”
Rapping further highlights the economic implications of excluding individuals with criminal records from the workforce, with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimating that this exclusion costs the economy up to $87 billion annually.
“We can’t afford to have everybody who comes out with a felony unable to get a job that moves into a livable wage job because then we also create an intergenerational crisis.”
Alison Rapping
Mary Clifton has secured employment at a local resort and is making strides toward reuniting with her family. Her story serves as a testament to the resilience and potential of individuals re-entering society post-incarceration.
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