Although the inmates were behind bars, 11 employers and five support agencies were helping them prepare for a life after incarceration.
On Thursday morning, 141 of the county’s several hundred inmates at the Bucks County Correctional Facility in Doylestown Township met with employers to talk about job opportunities for once they are released and how to apply for those positions.
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It was the inaugural “Behind The Walls Job Fair.”
In a statement announcing the job fair, the Bucks County Department of Corrections said the event was a “key part of making incarceration not just a matter of retribution, but one also of rehabilitation.”
“Equipping these returning citizens with the tools they need to succeed outside the correctional facility’s walls is crucial to our re-entry mission,” said Interim Director of Corrections David Kratz. “We extend our sincere thanks to the employers and agencies who helped make this inaugural event a success, and look forward to working with them in the months and years to come.”
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The event was put together with assistance from corrections administrators, Bucks County Workforce and Economic Development, and PA CareerLink Bucks County.
“There are many benefits to employing previously incarcerated individuals after release,” said Billie Barnes, executive director of the Bucks County Workforce and Economic Development Department. “Businesses tap into the enormous potential of an often-overlooked talent pool of applicants eager to work.”
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Below are the employers who took part:
- A.V. Weber
- Amazon
- Craft Pro Masonry
- Double H Plastics, Inc.
- Effluent Retrieval
- General Flange and Forge
- J. Sharp’s Landscaping, Inc.
- Jericho National Golf Club
- Peddler’s Village
- Simmons Feed Co.
- The Warrington
“Employers across industries have increasingly reached out to the Department of Corrections for work release referrals to fill open positions in Bucks County,” said Barnes. “In response, my department collaborated with the DOC to organize this Behind the Walls event as part of our ongoing effort to connect qualified candidates to job opportunities and fulfill the needs of employers looking to mitigate labor shortages.”
The Bucks County Adult Probation and Parole Department, the Bucks County Human Services HUB, the Bucks County Opportunity Council, CareerLink, and the Bucks County Public Defender’s Office also took part in the event.
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Officials said talks are already underway for another job fair.
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