County launches program to help people released from prison find jobs

ALBANY COUNTY – The county has partnered with the Capital Region Workforce Development Board to provide support and job readiness training to people released from the Albany Jail, as well as clients of the Sheriff's Homeless Improvement Program (SHIP) housed at the jail.

Each year, more than 600,000 people are released from prisons and jails in the United States. Studies show that 60 to 75 percent of them remain unemployed for up to a year after their release.

“This is a game changer for our community because it will reduce recidivism rates while promoting an Albany County that actively embraces all people and their pasts. A huge thank you and moment of appreciation goes out to our former legislator Matthew Peter, whom we will sorely miss, for leading this initiative. I am grateful we were able to pull it off successfully,” said Joanne Cunningham, chair of the Albany County Legislature, in a press release announcing the program.

The program coincides with another county initiative that pays employees for the time they spend on training, ensuring that companies stay on top of onboarding and training new employees. The program was funded with more than $2.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding the county is using for workforce development.