Governor Dannel P. Malloy, on day two of his “Second Chance Society” campaign, met today met with Hartford leaders.
“If we want to have a successful, cohesive criminal justice strategy that focuses on preventing re-entry, we must have the resources and tools available to ensure that ex-offenders can become productive members of society upon their eventual release,” Malloy said in a news release. “By expanding education opportunities and connecting this population with employers in need of workers, we can make a real impact that drives our crime rate even lower and prevents recidivism.”
Malloy ordered the expansion of the Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training program, a pilot program run by the Department of Labor providing job skills and adult literacy education.
“Those utilizing I-BEST will receive the literacy skills and training that they need while they gain real life experience on the job,” Malloy said. “This intensive training will ultimately help them obtain full-time employment.”
The enlarged Hartford-area program will include the work of the Connecticut Department of Correction and other agency, philanthropic organizations and non-profits in identifying ex-offenders to help re-enter society.