Building Pathways to Success for Justice-Impacted Job Seekers

October 16, 2024

In September, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Washington’s inclusion as the sixth state in the Reentry 2030 initiative, a national effort to reduce recidivism by breaking down barriers to employment, housing, and critical services for those reentering society from correctional facilities.

While this is a state-wide initiative with multiple state agencies convening in this work, WorkForce Central has been working with our system partners to identify gaps in service and start working toward solutions to provide support at a local level in Pierce County.

While the Pierce County Jail has seen an overall decline in bookings since 2019, nearly 10,000 people were booked into our local jail last year. (Learn more about our jail system.)

The re-entry process for individuals leaving jail often begins with overwhelming challenges. Whether an individual’s time in jail is brief or extended, many are released with little more than the clothes on their backs, struggling to meet immediate needs like securing housing, employment, or even basic necessities. This lack of resources makes it nearly impossible for them to establish stability, and as a result, many fall back into the system.

In September, we convened for the first time the Pierce County Justice Success Network, an initiative led by WorkForce Central in collaboration with community partners. Together, we aim to build a comprehensive ecosystem that offers justice-impacted individuals the support they need to overcome systemic challenges and build better futures.

The network is dedicated to addressing these critical gaps by developing a re-entry ecosystem that recognizes the complex realities justice-involved individuals face. By working closely with local businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions, and government agencies, we aim to create a seamless network of services that ensures access to housing, job training, education, and mental health support.

Research shows that securing stable employment and access to educational opportunities can cut recidivism rates in half, said Kelly Brickhouse, Community Engagement Coordinator for WorkForce Central. For individuals accustomed to a life of “hustling” to meet immediate needs, the lack of access to good, meaningful careers often perpetuates a cycle of short-term decision-making that leads to reoffending. By offering these individuals pathways to careers — not just jobs — we are equipping them with the tools and resources they need for long-term success.

This need for employment was evident at the “Beyond Boundaries” event held by WorkSource Pierce on August 23 at the Court Resource Center. The event, which focused on supporting justice-involved individuals, saw over 280 attendees and provided access to a wealth of resources, including employment opportunities, housing assistance, and support services. The data from this event is telling: 255 participants expressed barriers to employment, with 280 citing income needs as a major concern. Additionally, issues like background checks, court fines, transportation, and driver’s license reinstatement were repeatedly mentioned as significant obstacles. These are the types of challenges our network is committed to addressing head-on.

As we move forward, our next steps involve mapping out what the justice network currently looks like in Pierce County and identifying the gaps in services and resources. During the network’s first convening last month, the group started working through a comprehensive survey so we could start identifying these barriers more specifically and start moving forward with a plan.

By bridging the gaps in the current system, we are laying the foundation for a more resilient community—one that offers support not only for immediate needs but also for long-term stability. From housing to employment, from financial literacy to family reunification, we are committed to being the backbone that supports justice-involved individuals as they rebuild their lives.

“Once we map out what our justice network looks like in Pierce County, we can figure out where gaps are and seek out funding to fill those gaps. Then we can enable our partners to fill those gaps and increase capacity,” Brickhouse said.

If you are interested in joining or learning more about the Pierce County Justice Success Network, please reach out to Kelly Brickhouse at kbrickhouse@workforce-central.org.