From the 1819 News staff
The Commission on Reentry met Tuesday and heard from leaders from the Alabama Forestry Association’s Forest Workforce Training Institute about training and employing former prisoners in order to help keep them out of the system.
Stephanie Fuller, Director of Promotions and Economic Development, and Greg Brewer, Director of ForestryWorks spoke about how those previously incarcerated can be productive and successful workers.
“We’re forgetting this huge market of individuals who are eager and willing to learn and also willing to work… We want to recruit the justice-involved individuals.” Fuller said.
The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles stated in a press release that these workers can be trained for skilled jobs with the goal of reducing recidivism.
“I believe a key component to reducing recidivism in Alabama is partnering with the private sector to find gainful employment for those previously incarcerated,” said Bureau Director Cam Ward. “We have a historic opportunity to reduce recidivism and fill a desperate need in the labor markets.”
More information on ForestryWorks can be found here: https://www.forestryworks.com/
Members of the Commission include Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn, Ingram State Technical College President Annette Funderburk, Alabama Department of Mental Health Commissioner Kimberly Boswell, Senator Will Barfoot, and Representative Connie Rowe, along with leaders from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, the Alabama Department of Labor, the Alabama Department of Human Resources, Medicaid, and the Governor’s Office.
The primary goal of the Commission, adapted from Section 3 of Alabama Senate Bill 221, is identifying, implementing, and promoting evidence-based research, policies, strategies, and programming to support successful reentry and reintegration.
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