Ex-offenders & youth

EX-OFFENDERS\RE-ENTRY CITIZENS:

DISAPPOINTING REALITY!

There are nearly six million people who are currently in the criminal justice system - 1.8 million inmates, 700,000 parolees and 3.4 million probationers. On December 31, 2005, there were 2,193,798 people in U.S. prisons and jails. The United States incarcerates a greater share of its population, 737 per 100,000 residents, than any other country on the planet.

For subsets of the population the numbers are even more alarming. It is estimated that in 1999 one of every nine black non-Hispanic males aged 25 to 29 was in prison. In addition, 5,000,000 people are released from prison every year. In 2006 the estimate increased to 11.7% of Black men in their late 20s.

But when you break down the statistics you see that incarceration is not an equal opportunity punishment.

U.S. incarceration rates by race, June 30, 2006:

Whites: 409 per 100,000
Latinos: 1,038 per 100,000
Blacks: 2,468 per 100,000

The more educational programs prisoners successfully complete, the lower the recidivism rate. Inmates who completed at least one training program per each six months of their prison term recidivated at a rate of 35.5% versus 44.1% of those who did not successfully complete any courses.

Given these extraordinary numbers addressing the employment and education issues of ex-offenders, The Road Called STRATE has taken on this major challenge in the workforce development field for ex-offenders in the State of Colorado.

The Road Called STRATE wants to assist you with the following reintegration and adjustments back into society:

- Case Management
- Job readiness
- Required assessments for enrollment
- Felony friendly employment listings
- Job preparation and retention classes
- Workplace violence classes
- Sexual harassment classes
- Resume writing and referral letters
- G.E.D. preparation and clothing bank
- Internet classes and job search classes

Applications and resumes can be critiqued over the internet. Please call for appointments only, (720)-328-2582 .

YOUTH:

The Road Called STRATE's goal is to keep as many youth ex-offenders as possible from returning to the detention facility and to help them become productive members of society. This includes using mentoring and counseling to help them stay off of drugs, move away from gang involvement, and implement a plan for their lives.

To achieve these goals, The Road Called STRATE offers a multitude of services directed at youths. The following courses last for about an hour:

- Drug and alcohol education and limited testing
- Necessary life skills
- G.E.D. Preparation
- Federal Application for Federal Student Aid Services (FAFSA)
- Job search, job preparation, and job retention Mentoring
- Computer Courses and Training

The Road Called STRATE offers mentoring sessions - by appointment only.