City of Round Rock helps create new beginnings through Jail to Jobs program

The City of Round Rock is helping to change lives by partnering with an organization that aims to break the cycle of youth recidivism.

Jail to Jobs empowers juvenile offenders to find purpose, personal growth, and achievement through an employment-based mentoring and job skills program, in order to reduce recidivism in the justice system. Graduates of the program are guaranteed a job from a Jail to Jobs business partner in the community. City of Round Rock began laying the foundation for a partnership in January 2019 that would allow program participants to work on special projects for the City in order to gain real-world experience.

“One of the biggest needs that our kids had when they got out of lockup was a job,” said Eddie Franz, Jail to Jobs Director for Williamson County. “We realized that they were getting out of jail, with the desire to change but going right back into the same environment with the same lack of support that saw them incarcerated in the first place.”

Since May, 12 program participants and one supervisor have contributed a total of 481 hours of work to the City, resulting in cost savings of $2,953. Work duties have included cleaning and organizing parts at the City’s fleet warehouse, picking up illegal bandit signs, collecting recyclables from City facilities and assisting with Household Hazardous Waste events. 

The post City of Round Rock helps create new beginnings through Jail to Jobs program appeared first on City of Round Rock.

Source: City of Round Rock