. (WKYT) – About 400 inmates will be able to take part in a job training program administered through the Kentucky Community and Technical College System at a new reentry campus in central Kentucky.
The program was made possible by House Bill 5, which received unanimous support in the recent General Assembly session.
“We have identified 325 current businesses who are willing to hire from the second chance community from across our state,” said Ryan Quarles, KCTCS president.
Inmates will be trained in mechanics, carpentry, manufacturing and welding. The goal is to reduce recidivism by providing employment opportunities upon release.
“Folks, they are less likely to return to prison if they’ve got a good paying job with dignity and stability to come with it,” said Gov. Andy Beshear, who attended a ceremonial bill signing outside Northpoint Training Center Monday.
Construction on the reentry campus has not begun yet, but some of the programs to train inmates are already up and running.
The program will be for inmates who are near the end of their sentences. Some will be able to transfer to the Northpoint campus for job training.
“We are going to be working with the department of corrections to help identify the students who may already have started class with us. And then align their academic learning with their release date,” Quarles said.
Rep. Jennifer Decker, R-Ky District 58, said the program addresses a critical issue.
“For too many Kentucky families incarceration has become a generational cycle. It goes from a parent to a child,” Decker said.
Quarles said the ideal situation would have the inmates start employment as soon as they are released.
The job training program is not available for inmates who are serving life sentences with no possibility of parole, who have escape or attempted escape and sex offenders.