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The Plainfield Re-Entry
Educational Facility (PREF) hosted a Hiring Fair on the 17th of April
2008 in an
effort to aid offenders (at PREF they are called Residents) with employment opportunities.
The PREF Residents
attending the job fair were within ninety days of their release back
to the community. PREF offers its Residents training in;
Horticulture, Business Services, Culinary Arts, Electronics Repair,
Outdoor Power Equipment Repair, and Building Trades the opportunity
to market themselves to interested employers looking for skilled
workers. Several PREF Residents have degrees and other skills in addition to
their vocational training. Obtaining employment prior to, or soon after
release, is a crucial part of the re-entry process. A successful re-entry
for ExOffenders and PREF Residents is key to lowering recidivism rates.
At PREF, the goal is to get as many of the incarcerated males in the
state who will be released, ready for re-entry. PREF offers the
Residents of the facility the opportunity to transition back into the
community with as much aid as possible in finding employment, housing,
and transportation prior to release. The goal of the Hiring Fair will be
to set a precedent for more opportunities of this nature for offenders
of the Indiana Department of Correction. Preparing the men for re-entry
is a proactive approach to fighting the climbing incarceration rates.
PREF feels that by
making it Residents more employable and providing them with opportunity,
the chances of their success are increased.
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