STAFF REPORTS
BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that 86 individuals in the Buffalo and Rochester areas, who were recently released from prison following a period of incarceration, have completed job readiness training programs aimed at securing future employment and preventing recidivism and a return to prison:
• 21 individuals were certified in operating a forklift at Buffalo Material Handling;
• 25 individuals were certified in asbestos removal at Environmental Education Associates; and
• 40 individuals completed a 10 hour Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) construction safety and health course through Core Safety Group.
• 25 individuals were certified in asbestos removal at Environmental Education Associates; and
• 40 individuals completed a 10 hour Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) construction safety and health course through Core Safety Group.
President Donald Trump declared April 2018 as Second Chance Month. According to a proclamation issued by President Trump, this month “our Nation emphasizes the need to prevent crime on our streets, to respect the rule of law by prosecuting individuals who break the law, and to provide opportunities for people with criminal records to earn an honest second chance. Affording those who have been held accountable for their crimes an opportunity to become contributing members of society is a critical element of criminal justice that can reduce our crime rates and prison populations, decrease burdens to the American taxpayer, and make America safer.”
“Working with our partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement, we here at the United States Attorney’s Office have re-doubled our efforts to restore respect for the rule of law in every corner of our community by aggressively prosecuting those who violate the law,” noted U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “As a result, our prosecutions are up, and crime is down. At the same time, however, we also recognize that respect is a two-way street. To show our respect for the community and all of its members—including even those whom we may have previously prosecuted—we decided to put our money where our mouth is. We took $20,000 from our own budget to pay for job training for convicts getting released from prison. The return on our investment has been remarkable, as those who are able to find meaningful employment are far less likely to commit future crimes, thereby becoming a future burden on taxpayers. The average price tag to incarcerate someone is roughly $40,000 to $60,000 per year. Through this program, we are saving both money and lives, while at the same time strengthening the bonds of mutual respect that hold us together as a community.”
The programs receiving funds are monitored by Jason Flores, the Crime Prevention and Re-Entry Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Buffalo.
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