New York: Businesses who employ ex-offenders in the state of New York in the USA are eligible for up to $2,400 in tax credits for each formerly incarcerated individual they hire.
This was revealed yesterday, 8 July by Superintendent Michael Capra, Head of the Sing Sing Correctional Facility in New York, during a tour of the facility by Correctional Services Minister Sibusiso Ndebele. The Minister, accompanied by Correctional Services Chief Operations Officer Ms Nontsikelelo Jolingana, Chief Deputy Commissioner for Community Corrections Ms Pumla Mathibela and KwaZulu-Natal Regional Commissioner Mr Mnikelwa Nxele, is currently on a study tour to California and New York to study, and observe, various issues pertaining to the monitoring of offenders, and officials, in order to consolidate a best-practice model for South Africa.
Superintendent Capra said: “The policy of New York State and Governor Andrew Cuomo is to help the formerly incarcerated find employment. Under the Work for Success programme, a business can earn up to $2,400 in federal tax credits for each formerly incarcerated individual they hire. In addition to providing tax credits and any bonding an employer may require, Work For Success saves businesses the cost of human resources services and job skills training by referring only the most qualified and appropriately trained applicants for any open jobs at no cost to business owners.
“Every employed individual who stays out of jail saves taxpayers between $17,000 and $25,000 per person per year. This helps reduce recidivism, promote economic development and improve public safety throughout New York State.
“Further, it is mandatory for all inmates to complete a High School Equivalency Diploma. For those found guilty of sexual offences and related serious crimes, electronic monitoring is utilised for 24-hour surveillance of such offenders. New York has also introduced an important alternatives to incarceration (ATI) programme for its prison system. Judges have the option of sending those with misdemeanours or felonies to this programme instead of sentencing them to imprisonment. Offenders who fail the programme receive a mandatory prison sentence, which gives them good incentive to succeed,” Capra said.
Later today (Tuesday, 9 July) in New York, Minister Ndebele will meet with representatives from The Education from the Inside Out Coalition. This is a national, nonpartisan collaborative of advocates working to remove barriers to higher education facing students whilst incarcerated and upon release.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 6444 050
