PA DEPT OF CORRECTIONS FOUR Responsible for operating the state’s prison system and providing parole supervision to reentrants, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC) seeks to give people second chances. Their mission statement “to reduce criminal behavior by providing individualized treatment and education to inmates, resulting in successful community reintegration through accountability and positive change,” is supported through state-run programs, such as treatment services; education and vocational training; mental health management; and reentry support. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, unemployment is highest within the first two years of release, so a personalized plan of action is critical to a reentrant’s success. The DOC provides support and opportunities focused on an individual’s needs knowing that the right fit will sustain employment. Before being paroled or released, inmates receive 160 hours of reentry training. This training is helpful as it provides the basic necessities to kick-start their reintegration. During this training they get help with things, like resume preparation, identification document retrieval, mentoring services, and finding where their interests lie. If these specific needs are not met at that personal level, chances of recidivism, going back to jail, are high. There are several other reentry services available to inmates who qualify, such as medical assistance enrollment, substance abuse treatment, GED testing, and vocational trade certification courses. Furthermore, once released, the assistance continues. Some reentrants may struggle finding stable housing after their release. “Things change at home, and in some cases, individuals have burned their bridges,” says George Little, Residents of the Harrisburg Community Corrections Center make their own meals. Reentry for former inmates means much more than just being released from prison. It means finding a stable living environment, mending broken ties with family and friends, and finding a career to support and sustain a successful life outside of prison. As the number of unemployed former inmates rises to nearly 5 million in the United States, effective workforce development is crucial to the advancement and growth of our society.