FORT WORTH (WBAP/KLIF)-The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Department and nonprofit One Community USA are launching a program to help reintegrate newly released inmates back into society.
Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn says the “Pathways to HOPE” program lasts 18 weeks after a 40 hour class. The goal is to help them find housing, jobs and skills. “The program has some pretty intense mentoring and it has some intense training. It starts out with a 40 hours class on how to do life and how to reconcile with other people and how to respect authority,” said Waybourn.
The Program will accept 30 willing participants who are leaving prison and they will be selected based off personality. Each person will get a mentor to help them get back on their feet and get access to work.
“We are in middle of reaching out to the Chamber of Commerce and If participants get through the program TCU will give them a certificate and we will be reaching out to businesses asking if they need someone to help lend a hand,” said Waybourn.
Waybourn said of the 4,000 inmates, about 80% grew up in fatherless homes and don’t have a high school diploma. He said having a mentor and someone they can look up to, will help guide them in the right direction for them to be successful.
He said there were several hundred people who interviewed for the program. He said for the first class, they are looking to have at least half of them be veterans, because of their instinct to lead. He anticipates the program will continue and they will have more courses open for those who apply.