Workforce and criminal justice leaders from across West Virginia will join forces next week for a screening of the documentary “Being Free,†from producers of the award-winning PBS series, “.â€
The film — which follows the journey of three formerly incarcerated people on the search for careers after prison — will be followed by an interactive panel discussion on Tuesday at The Capitol Theater in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä.
Aloi
“High recidivism rates aren’t just an issue of social justice, they’re a fundamental barrier to economic mobility for so many in our state,†said Michael Aloi, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of West Virginia. “By creating new paths to the workforce for West Virginians returning from incarceration, we have the opportunity to solve a critical challenge facing our communities and begin to create a culture of rehabilitation.â€
Most incarcerated West Virginians deal with substance abuse disorder
West Virginia is continuing to grapple with a persistent worker shortage, with just 54 workers for every 100 open jobs, .
At the same time, the state’s incarceration rate outpaces the national average, and the journey home for formerly imprisoned West Virginians is particularly fraught, as 58% of people in state prison and 63% of people sentenced to local jail contend with substance abuse disorder, according to a by Marshall University.
Faced with challenges maintaining sobriety, a lack of affordable housing and barriers to employment — both in terms of skills and access to opportunity — the remains one of the highest in the nation at 29.3%.
“The connection between recidivism and substance abuse in West Virginia is significant,†said Deb Harris, manager at , which is a state program that assists individuals affected by substance abuse. “This correlation presents a substantial challenge but offers a distinct opportunity to address two enduring issues simultaneously. Forward-looking businesses statewide are demonstrating the potential for meaningful impact by recognizing the capabilities of formerly incarcerated individuals and actively supporting their reintegration into the workforce.â€
Insights from film led to changes
from the Society for Human Resource Management, the insights and experiences shared by the subjects of “Being Free†led to significant changes in how human resource professionals and talent leaders perceive formerly incarcerated individuals.
The surveys from the study showed three months after watching the film, HR professionals were more likely to agree that formerly incarcerated people bring unique strengths and benefits to the workplace.
“Both research and anecdotal experience confirm how crucial storytelling is when it comes to changing entrenched systems,†said Mike Marriner, co-founder and president of Roadtrip Nation. “This initiative is about helping business and community leaders across West Virginia share the experiences of those who have succeeded in their return from incarceration and make the case for fair chance hiring as an essential part of the state’s economic growth strategy in the years to come.â€
Film screening part of nationwide initiative
Marriner said the screening is part of a nationwide initiative supported by , a national philanthropy focused on criminal justice issues.
In addition to Aloi and Harris, speakers for the event include:
Lorrie Smith, West Virginia’s Workforce Resiliency Officer
Betsy Jividen, former commissioner of the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Amber Blankenship, peer reentry coordinator at the REACH Initiative
Charlotte Webb with ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Property Restoration
Trey Kay, of , will moderate the panel discussion.
Fred Pace is the regional business reporter for HD Media. Follow him at and @FredPaceHD via X (formerly Twitter).
