Governor Doug Ducey implemented new hiring procedures in state government intended to provide a second chance and increased employment opportunities to Arizonans who have served their time and been released. Under the new policy, known as the “Second Chance Box,” state agencies will delay questions related to an applicant’s criminal record until after the initial stages of interviewing, ensuring all individuals receive full and fair consideration for job openings.
Arizona Cardinals In October 2018, Governor Ducey, Arizona Cardinals President Michael Bidwill and Arizona Cardinals players attended a job fair at the Lewis State Prison Complex where they heard first-hand from inmates, ex-offenders and employers about their experience with the Second Chance Centers. Following the visit, the Cardinals expressed a commitment to encouraging other employers to partner with Arizona to help those exiting prison successfully reenter society.
The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) works with Arizona families, community organizations, advocates and state and federal partners to realize our collective vision that every child, adult, and family in the state of Arizona will be safe and economically secure. The DES Division of Employment and Rehabilitation Services (DERS) plays an integral role in improving Arizona’s workforce by assisting individuals who are unemployed and underemployed, and those with barriers to employment, to prepare for and obtain gainful employment. DERS supports Arizona employers with recruitment assistance by connecting them to a skilled workforce. DERS is the state’s workforce system operating under Arizona’s workforce development network, ARIZONA@WORK.
ARIZONA@WORK provides no-cost innovative workforce solutions to employers of all sizes and types to recruit, develop and retain the best employees for their needs. Employment preparation services are provided at our career centers throughout the state to prepare job seekers for industry needs. ARIZONA@WORK Second Chance Centers are currently operational in three state prisons providing inmates nearing release with comprehensive workforce services to prepare them for successful reentry in Arizona’s workforce. ARIZONA@WORK also provides reentry workforces services in county jails, one juvenile corrections facility and to former inmates in parole offices and in the NATIVE HEALTH central office..
The Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) mission is to serve and protect the people of Arizona by securely incarcerating convicted felons, by providing structured programming designed to support inmate accountability and successful community reintegration, and by providing effective supervision for those offenders conditionally released from prison.
Arizona Correctional Industries (ACI) trains approximately 2,000 offenders each day in service, manufacturing, and agricultural industries in Arizona’s correctional institutions. ACI is self-supporting and sells over 1,500 different products to state agencies and private businesses in Arizona. Its most important product is a skilled worker who does not return to prison. By working closely with private businesses and community partners throughout the state, the rehabilitation of offenders has created a pool of trained workers available for hire.
The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state’s leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona’s economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: recruit, grow, create – recruit out-of-state companies to expand their operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to grow their business in Arizona and beyond; and partner with entrepreneurs and companies large and small to create new jobs and businesses in targeted industries.
Phoenix College is one of the oldest community colleges in the country and will be celebrating its centennial anniversary in 2020. With over 150 degree and certificate programs, Phoenix College serves approximately 17,000 students each year. They work hard to prepare students for their next steps — university transfer, career training and advancement, or lifelong learning.
