Employment Program
The RISE Employment Program continued to expand to meet the needs of our program participants throughout 2022. Whether it was providing weekly employment support to participants at Community Correction Centers (work release), or totaling out the year with over 150 employers in Nebraska open to hiring RISE graduates, we are both proud of the progress we have made, and motivated by the challenges we will need to overcome in 2023.
The average hourly wage of those working in the community is over $17, and 87 % of RISE graduates are currently employed. With a low unemployment percentage in Nebraska, RISE is able to quickly guide formerly incarcerated individuals into entry‑level employment. This is particularly crucial to individuals living at Community Corrections Centers and those on parole; individuals in these groups are required to apply, interview, acquire, and begin employment in a two‑week time frame or face repercussions.[1]
Employment alone is a low goal when we serve individuals who are highly skilled, willing to learn, and desire to make a livable wage for themselves and their families. We worked diligently to secure partnerships with employers able to provide salary and benefit compensation. Yet, many of those positions are still only open to those with specific criminal charges and lengthy amounts of time between their crime and their application to a position. This immediately disqualifies competitive candidates, and is disheartening to those who have been years removed from their conviction, and are working toward a better future.
In 2023, RISE will strategically work with employers in the Nebraska labor market to match program participants to appropriate roles with salary compensation, benefit packages, and long‑term career paths.
When employers prioritize second‑chance hiring, it creates confidence and stability in the lives of our program participants. This results in healthier families, safer communities, and a clear path to the end of generational cycles of incarceration.[2][3]
