Corrections professionals work hard to educate inmates about what they need to be successful in the free world. At CoreCivic, we also recognize that it’s just as important to ask inmates what they want to accomplish and what barriers they feel are in their way.

The answers can surprise and even inform how we craft more effective reentry programs.

When Harriett Jackson, a discharge planner at CoreCivic’s Metro-Davidson County Detention Facility in Nashville, asked inmates what they felt was preventing them from staying out of prison, many said it was because employers were reluctant to hire them. So she went above and beyond, organizing a Reentry Resource Fair where inmates could meet with organizations that specialize in issues like employment, housing and mental health services, which can help put them on the right track before leaving our care.

The Reentry Resource Fair is held four times a year to make sure every individual in our care has an opportunity to connect with those critical resources before they are released. The most recent fair, held January 31, was covered by Nashville’s NewsChannel 5.

We are proud of staff members like Harriett Jackson who work with organizations in the community to ensure former offenders have the best chance for success.