Indiana
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Contact:
Indiana Department of Workforce Development
10 North Senate Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-232-3623
317-233-6081 fax
Web Site: www.in.gov/dwd/
Information about State Department of Labor resources may be of interest to:
• potential employers looking for incentives to hire individuals with criminal histories;
• service providers and individuals with criminal histories who are looking for assistance in finding employment; and
• researchers and policy makers looking at current programs to ascertain what programs are effective and serve their intended purpose.
Federal Bonding Program
The Federal Bonding Program provides fidelity bonding insurance coverage to individuals with criminal histories and other high-risk job applicants who are qualified, but fail to get jobs because regular commercial bonding is denied due to their backgrounds.
Contact:
Karen Swain
Indiana Department of Workforce Development
10 North Senate Avenue
Room 307
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-232-3623
317-233-2679 fax
Tax Credits
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal tax credit to reduce the federal tax liability of private for profit employers to be used as an incentive for employers to hire individuals from eight different targeted groups: TANF recipients, veterans, ex-felons, high risk youth, summer youth, Food Stamp recipients, SSI recipients, and vocational rehabilitation referrals.
Contact:
Indiana Department of Workforce Development
10 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-232-7186
317-233-2679 fax
Unemployment Insurance Office
Unemployment compensation is a social insurance program designed to provide benefits to most individuals out of work, generally through no fault of their own, for periods between jobs. In order to be eligible for benefits, jobless workers must demonstrate that they have worked, usually measured by amount of wages and/or weeks of work, and must be able and available for work.
The unemployment compensation program is based upon federal law, but administered by states under state law.
To file an initial claim for unemployment insurance, one must go to the nearest Indiana Workforce Development Unemployment Insurance office. Indiana law requires one to register for work at an Indiana Workforce Development office. Locations of local WorkOne offices are available on the web site or through the toll-free number listed below.
Contact:
888-967-5663
Web Site: www.in.gov/dwd
This is the agency individuals may contact to obtain a copy of their state rap sheet. The criminal record repository can also tell the individual who else is legally entitled to have access to his or her record.
To request a copy of a criminal history report, one must submit Indiana state form #8053 or a letter requesting full criminal history information, a fingerprint card completed by a law enforcement agency and a $10 certified check or money order made payable to the “Indiana State Police.”
Contact:
Indiana State Police
Central Repository
100 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46204
371-232-8262
Web Site: www.in.gov/isp/lch
Employers and service providers may obtain information from the state attorney general regarding occupational bars, the licensing of individuals with criminal records in certain jobs, and whether the state has laws that limit what employers may ask job applicants or protections against employment discrimination based on a criminal record.
Contact:
Attorney General
Indiana Government Center South, 5th Floor
302 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-232-6201
Web Site: www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/
Prison Industry Program
More than 2,000 inmates are employed in various enterprises within Prison Enterprises Network (PEN Products). Industries include: remanufacture automotive parts; food processing including frozen meat /poultry products and dairy products; metal furniture and shelving; institutional clothing; janitorial and laundry products; computer aided drafting (CAD); data conversion-GIS; printing; engraving; signage; park furniture; office and wood furniture; commercial laundry services; data entry; coil assembly; and electronic component assembly. Indiana also participates in the Prison Industries Enterprises (PIE) federal program. Offenders in this program are paid the prevailing wage for the job, but are also responsible for paying room and board to the state, federal and state taxes, victim’s restitution, and family/child support.
Contact:
PEN Products
Indiana Department of Correction
2010 New York Street
Indianapolis, IN 46201
317-955-6800
Web Site: www.in.gov/idoc/penindustries/
Work Release Program
Inmates incarcerated through the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) are eligible for work release when they have less than two years remaining on their sentence. Individuals convicted of violent or sex offenses are restricted from participation in the work release program. There are two male and one female work release facilities in Indiana.
Pre-Release Program
Participation in a pre-release program is mandatory for all Indiana prisoners. In addition to obtaining documents such as birth certificates and social security cards, prisoners engage in 80 hours of curriculum that includes anger management, cognitive thinking, budget and financial management. Housing, educational and vocational training needs are considered as well.
Contact:
Indiana Department of Corrections
302 West Washington Street IGCS
Room E334
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-232-5780
Web Site: www.in.gov/indcorrection/
Post-Release Program
The post-release program in Indiana is known as the Community Transition Program (CTP). Most offenders are eligible for CAP with few exceptions. Programs available may include work release, home detention, electronic monitoring, day reporting, substance abuse treatment and regular reporting to a probation officer. Offenders are transferred to their home county for CTP participation anywhere from 60 to 180 days prior to the earliest projected release date. The purpose of this program is to allow an offender time to re-enter the community while still being subject to criminal justice supervision.
Contact:
Indiana Department of Correction
Community Transition Program
302 West Washington Street
Room W341
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-234-0194
Web Site: www.IN.gov/indcorrection/
Parole supervision is under the direction of the Indiana Department of Correction. The parole board only determines the release date of those offenders still in custody who were sentenced prior to 1977. Under current sentencing structures, offenders may reduce their sentence by one day for each day served by earning “credit time” via participation in educational programs or obtaining vocational training and substance abuse treatment. Time spent on parole supervision depends on the date of sentencing. Offenders sentenced prior to July 1991 serve one year on parole supervision; offenders sentenced after June 20, 1991 serve two years on parole supervision.
Contact:
Indiana Department of Correction
302 W. Washington Street, IGCS,
Room E334
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-232-5780
Web Site: www.in.gov/indcorrection
Free or low-cost legal resources, both in civil and criminal law, are helpful to individuals with criminal histories in learning about relevant state laws governing the expungement or sealing of criminal histories or addressing other legal issues resulting from having a criminal history.
State Public Defender
Contact:
Web Site: www.in.gov/ipdc/
Legal Services
Contact:
Indiana Legal Services, Inc
214 South College Avenue, 2nd Floor
Bloomington, IN 47404
812-339-7668
812-339-2081 fax
Web Site: www.indianalegalservices.org
State Bar Association
Contact:
Indiana State Bar Association
One Indiana Square
Suite 530
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-639-5465
317-266-2588 fax
Web Site: www.inbar.org
Community agencies are available to assist individuals with criminal records find employment. This information will inform individuals with criminal records about government agencies and community-based organizations that assist with employment, education or vocational training. Researchers and policy makers may find this information useful in identifying agencies and service providers in order to evaluate the effectiveness of these programs.
WorkOne Centers
WorkOne Centers offer a wide range of employment and training services through the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. Other specific services are also available at the WorkOne Express offices. The locations of both types of centers are available at the web site listed below.
Contact:
Indiana Department of Workforce Development
Indiana Government Center South
10 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 45204
800-891-6499
317-233-4793 fax
Web Site: www.in.gov/dwd/2582.htm
Next Step Programs
Next Step Programs is a division of the Fletcher Place Ministry. The first program, Survival Skills, is a ten-week series of seminars that teach basic day-to-day life skills. Upon graduation from Survival Skills, computer training, writing workshops and job placement assistance are available. Each series of seminars can accommodate a total of 15 participants.
Contact:
The Adult Center for Education, a Fletcher Place Ministry
1831 East Prospect Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46203
317-636-3466
317-916-0892 fax
Web Site: www.fletcherplacecc.org/
Public Advocates in Community re-Entry
The Community Action Program (CAP) is a collaborative effort of Public Action in Correctional Effort (PACE) and Offender Aid Restoration (OAR). CAP works within neighborhoods to identify resources for individuals with criminal records. Their goal is to coordinate efforts and maximize resources of community and faith-based organizations, as well as to identify businesses that are willing to employ individuals with criminal records. In addition to direct job placement, CAP assists clients in obtaining clothing, enrolling in training programs, obtaining housing and securing transportation.
Contact:
Public Advocates in Community re-Entry
2855 N. Keystone Avenue
Suite 110
Indianapolis, IN 46218
317-612-6800
317-612-6811 fax
Web Site: www.paceindy.org
Kairos Prison Ministry of Indiana
Prison Ministries of Indiana provides assistance to recently released inmates in the form of information and referral to needed services, placement in job training programs, as well as providing assistance in obtaining housing, food and clothing.
Contact:
Kairos Prison Ministry of Indiana
10505 N. College Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46280
317-446-2746
Web Site: www.kairosofindiana.org/contact.html
Dismas House of Michiana
Dismas House of Michiana provides transitional housing and support services to recently released men and women. Services provided include room and board, transportation, job referrals, life skills counseling and drug/alcohol counseling referrals. All residents pay program fees and are expected to gain employment within two weeks of arrival at Dismas House.
Contact:
Dismas of Indiana
521 S St Joesph St
South Bend, IN 46601
574-233-8522
Web Site: dismashouseofindiana.org/
Companions on the Journey
Companions on the Journey is an interfaith network providing practical, spiritual and emotional support to individuals returning to St. Joseph County, Indiana from incarceration. Volunteer faith teams are matched with a prisoner four to six months before release to develop an action plan for release. Volunteers are required to make a one to two year commitment to assist recently released prisoners reenter society.
Contact:
Companions on the Journey
Central United Methodist Church
1920 South Michigan Street
South Bend, IN 46613
E-Mail: companions@kconline.com
Web Site: www.in.gov/idoc/files/WCCartshow.pdf
Community Action Program
The Community Action Program (CAP) is a collaborative effort of Public Action in Correctional Effort (PACE) and Offender Aid Restoration (OAR). CAP works within neighborhoods to identify resources for individuals with criminal records. Their goal is to coordinate efforts and maximize resources of community and faith-based organizations, as well as to identify businesses that are willing to employ individuals with criminal records. In addition to direct job placement, CAP assists clients in obtaining clothing, enrolling in training programs, obtaining housing and securing transportation.
Contact:
PACE/OAR
3214 Hovey Street
Indianapolis, IN 46218
Blue Jacket, Inc.
Blue Jacket, Inc. was launched in 20051) to: 1) fill the gap between the pre-employment training provided by Allen County Community Corrections and actual employment; 2) provide services to people with criminal records not active in the adult criminal justice system; and 3) provide real transitional job opportunities. It provides vocational training and employment placement services and works to meet other reentry needs of formerly incarcerated individuals.
Contact:
2826 South Calhoun Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46807
(260) 744-1900
(260) 744-1958 fax
E-Mail: contact@bluejacketinc.org
Web Site: www.bluejacketinc.org