26-05-2025
Reentry program in North Carolina helps former felons find work
RALEIGH, N.C. (WAVY) – The N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) started a reentry program in 2024 to help those formerly incarcerated get jobs on transportation work crews.
The program, which was created as a result of Executive Order 303, helps those who were incarcerated get identification cards to access housing and healthcare more easily.
'Removing barriers, creating job opportunities, and improving reentry services so participants can be successful and productive after they leave prison helps reduce crime and breaks the cycle of relapse,' said state Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins.
The Executive Order was signed in January 2024 under former Gov. Roy Cooper and continued under Gov. Josh Stein.
In addition to the reentry program, NCDOT's On the Job Training program trains formerly incarcerated people in operating heavy equipment, directing traffic in work zones or surveying property.
'Individuals with prior incarceration face significantly lower callback rates from potential employers compared to those without criminal records,' said NCDOT's Ebony Pittman, the agency's deputy secretary for Business Administration. 'This program provides a meaningful pathway to both short-term and long-term employment for people who may be losing hope due to their past. Ultimately, formerly incarcerated people deserve a second chance.'
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