Businesses partner with Office of Probation and Parole to offer ex-inmates jobs, resources
By Ashley White
The Advertiser
LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — It had been a long time since Brett Nosworthy had been to a job interview and he was nervous.
He had been incarcerated for a few months because of his drug addiction, he said, but his parole officer suggested he apply for a job at Lafayette Granite and Marble, which fabricates, manufactures and installs cultured marble, granite and quartz.
When he met the owner, Chris Smith, and the shop manager, his nerves dissipated.
“They welcomed me. That was huge,” he said. “Right when I walked in the door, it was good, right from the start. It’s just been great ever since.”
Nosworthy was hired through a partnership between the business and the Louisiana Department of Correction’s Office of Probation and Parole’s reentry program, which is designed to connect people who are released from prison with the resources they need.
The 33-year-old pours cultured marble. He said it’s like art, pouring the material and then coming in the next day to see the final product. It’s therapeutic.
He’s grateful for the job and people like Smith who believe in second chances. He said it can be hard to get in the door or find employers who are flexible when it comes to missing work for court.
“You help a situation or you’re not and you’re gonna sit around and complain,” he said. “That’s what’s so great about Chris (Smith) just because they’re deciding to take action and really help out. That means a lot.”
There are six formerly incarcerated people working at Lafayette Granite and Marble, which sits off of Interstate 49 just north of East Pont Des Mouton Road.
Smith, who’s owned the business for about 10 years with his wife Candy Smith, said the company started working with the Office of Probation and Parole a few months ago.
They were looking to bring on new hires and Smith feels strongly about second chances.
“We don’t want to punish people for sins they’ve had in the past if they’re trying to get right,” he said. “The employees are phenomenal. They’re very thankful to be here, very hardworking. The benefits completely outweigh any negativity.”
Smith said after taking over the company he worked to create a culture where employees would help lift each other up, both professionally and personally. He said employees treat each other like family, checking in on each other when someone is sick and celebrating wins like sobriety milestones.
“We’re always striving to be better,” Candy Smith said. “We like to help our employees strive to be better. And typically in the reentry area they need support and we try to create a supportive environment to help them get past what they’ve been through.”
It’s clear to see for Blaine Case, who was incarcerated for six months on a convicted felon with a firearm charge before starting work a month ago as a mold prepper. He looks forward every day to the morning meeting.
“Just the atmosphere and the vibe. Everybody’s so nice. Just discussing what we’re gonna do for today,” he said. “Everybody, they’re real centered on helping each other out.”
Helping formerly incarcerated people get settled after their release is Laura Smith’s job and passion. As the reentry program manager, she connects them with resources to help find housing, transportation and jobs.
She’s worked in the Office of Probation and Parole for 14 years and has seen it evolve from a system more inclined to incarcerate someone to one that’s working to help treat root issues and develop skills to keep people from reoffending.
“I’ve seen the way it’s not worked. And I’ve seen the way that it works. So for me, I’m not going back to where we continue to lock everybody up,” she said. “If you put too many obstacles in their way, they’re never given a chance to change.”
“It brings me a lot of happiness in my job knowing that so much has changed in the last 10 years,” she added. “And it’s changed for the better.”
While incarcerated, those in prison can access reentry centers where they can sharpen soft skills through things like parenting classes or learn job skills and get different certifications. Those certifications include welding, carpentry and HVAC.
If someone doesn’t finish their certification while incarcerated, the Department of Corrections partners with South Louisiana Community College and the Louisiana Workforce Commission to ensure they can.
Smith hopes those qualifications will help those leaving prison to find employment opportunities. But she said the Office of Probation and Parole needs more community support.
“Probation and Parole and DOC as a whole can’t solve all the problems,” she said. “DOC can give them the skills and we (Probation and Parole) can help on the other side, help them get an education, but we can’t get them hired. The community needs to do that part.”
“We do this whole Lafayette strong thing, neighbors come together, when there’s problems or crisis or flood or natural disaster. But I kind of feel like this is a crisis,” she added.
Employers who hire formerly incarcerated people - a pool Smith is hoping to expand - receive incentives for hiring. The companies just need to be willing to take a chance.
