Louisiana
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Contact:
Louisiana Workforce Commission
1001 North 23rd Street
P.O. Box 94094
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
225-342-3111
Web Site: www.ldol.state.la.us
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.
A. 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:
Louisiana Department of Corrections
Division of Probation & Parole
Region IV
731 St. Charles Avenue, 3rd Floor
New Orleans, LA 70130
504-568-8690
B. 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:
Louisiana Workforce Commission
P.O. Box 94094
Capitol Station
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
225-342-3037
225-342-2922 fax
C. 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.
Unemployment insurance benefit claims may be filed at the nearest job center or on the internet at www.LAWORKS.net.
Contact:
Louisiana Workforce Commission
1001 North 23rd Street
P.O. Box 94094
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
225-342-3111
Web Site: www.laworks.net/
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.
Louisiana is a closed state with regard to the distribution of criminal record information. All requests for review of criminal record information must be made in person. The fee for criminal record review is $10 and must be paid by money order payable to the “Department of Public Safety.”
Contact:
Louisiana State Police
Bureau of Criminal Identification & Information
Department of Public Safety
7919 Independence Boulevard
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
225-925-6095
Web Site: www.lsp.org
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:
Office of the Attorney General
Office of the Attorney General
State Capitol
1885 North Third Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
225-326-6079
Web Site: www.ag.state.la.us
Prison Industry Program
Louisiana Corrections Services operates a Prison Enterprises Division. Items manufactured at four different correctional facilities include office furniture construction and refurbishing, garments and linen, janitorial supplies, silk screening, signage, mattresses and printing services. Operations are directed by a six-member board.
Contact:
Prison Enterprises Division
504 Mayflower Street
P.O. Box 94304
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
225-342-6633
225-342-5556 fax
Web Site: www.doc.louisiana.gov/
Corrections Organized for Re-entry
The Corrections Organized for Re-entry program (CORe) is a newly developed program in Louisiana to help break the cycle of recidivism by offering inmates the resources, knowledge, and skills necessary to survive in society. While in custody, inmates are encouraged to learn marketable skills and develop new behaviors by addressing deficiencies and learning life skills. An intensive period of planning and preparation begins three years or sooner prior to release for each inmate. Emphasis is placed on education, job skills and practical survival matters such as housing, job search and fulfilling parole requirements. An individualized accountability plan is developed that an inmate will be expected to follow upon release. During the transition period from incarceration, behavior is monitored, referrals to community programs are given and partnerships with volunteer groups, local law enforcement, faith-based institutions and other organizations are developed to assist in reentry.
Contact:
Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections Services
504 Mayflower Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
225-342-9711
225-342-3349 fax
Web Site: www.corrections.state.la.us
Division of Probation and Parole
The Division of Probation and Parole of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections Services functions as the community services division and consists of 21 district offices. It is responsible for the supervision of adults released on probation or parole. Supervision is also exercised over eight contract work release centers and the intensive parole cases in the IMPACT program.
Contact:
Division of Parole/Probation
504 Mayflower Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
225-342-6609
225-342-3087 fax
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.
A. State Public Defender
Contact:
Louisiana Indigent Defense Assistance Board
1010 Common Street, Suite 2710
New Orleans, LA 70112
504-568-8530
504-568-8499 fax
B. Legal Services
Contact:
Legal Services of North Louisiana, Inc.
720 Travis Street
Shreveport, LA 71101
800-826-9265
Contact:
Acadiana Legal Services Corporation
1020 Surrey Street
P.O. Box 4823
Lafayette, LA 70502
800-256-1175
Web Site: www.la-law.org
Contact:
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Corporation
1010 Common Ste. 1400A
New Orleans, LA 70112
504-529-1000, Ext. 242
www.slls.org
Contact:
The Pro Bono Project
601 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70130
504-581-4043
504-566-0518 fax
E-Mail: probono@probono-no.org
Web Site: www.probono-no.org
C. State Bar Association
Contact:
Louisiana State Bar Association
601 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70130
504-566-1600
Web Site: www.lsba.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.
Job Centers
Job Centers across Louisiana are equipped with computer labs for self-tutorials and instructional workshops in the areas of word-processing, resume writing, typing, spreadsheets, and other computer applications, as well as being Internet ready. The centers also offer CD-ROM interactive training, computer and copy machine access, phone and fax capabilities, and mock interviews. Individuals can access 40,000 online job postings from Louisiana Department of Labor’s web site. Through a partnership with the State Library of Louisiana, anyone looking for work can search for jobs online utilizing computers in public libraries across the state. Locations of local job centers are available at www.ldol.state.la.us/.
Total Community Action
Total Community Action is a community-based organization that offers a variety of services including childhood development, job counseling and guidance, transportation for the elderly and disabled, youth work experience, and other services that address the needs of the disadvantaged. There are seven centers in operation.
Contact:
Total Community Action, Inc.
1420 South Jeff Davis Pkwy.
New Orleans, LA 70125
504-872-0334
Web Site: www.tca-nola.org/
Goodwill Industries - Lafayette
Goodwill Industries provides training, skill development and work opportunities for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment.
Contact:
Goodwill Industries Acadiana, Inc.
2435 W Congress Street
Lafayette, LA 70506
337-261-5811
337-261-1911 fax
Web Site: www.lagoodwill.com
Goodwill Industries - New Orleans
Goodwill Industries provides training, skill development and work opportunities for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment.
Contact:
Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Louisiana, Inc.
3400 Tulane Avenue, #1000
New Orleans, LA 70119
504-482-4173
504-484-7565 fax
Goodwill Industries - Shreveport
Goodwill Industries provides training, skill development and work opportunities for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment.
Contact:
North Louisiana Goodwill Industries Rehabilitation Center, Inc.
800 West 70th St.reet
Shreveport, LA 71106
318-869-2575
318-869-2574 fax
Web Site: www.goodwillnla.org/
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans assists clients in developing employment skills to seek and retain jobs.
Contact:
1000 Howard Avenue, Suite 200
New Orleans, LA 70113
504-523-3755 ext. 2223
504-525-9826 fax
Project Return
Project Return offers the following services to individuals with criminal records: case management, including referrals to appropriate agencies as needed; addiction education and relapse prevention; remediation through college preparation education courses; basic computer skills; life skills, including family and parental relationships and post-prison issues; and employment planning. Employment planning involves resume preparation and job search assistance.
Contact:
Project Return
2703 General de Gaulle Dr.
New Orleans, LA 70114
Enhanced Job Skills Program
The Enhanced Job Skills Program, operated by the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center, assists individuals who are incarcerated for drug-related charges in preparing for employment upon release. The four-phase program begins with assessment and career selection, progressing to computer-based skills program that teaches basic skills for over 200 types of job categories. Phase III involves job searching and interview techniques. Phase IV begins two months prior to release with assistance in job placement. The agency maintains contact with participants for six months following release.
Contact:
Enhanced Job Skills Program
Lafayette Parish Correctional Center
916 Lafayette Street
Lafayette, LA 70501
337-236-5400
Reentry Solutions
This agency assists with housing, employment, job training, and GED classes. This is a great resource for someone who is in the Central Louisiana area seeking assistance.
Contact:
Reentry Solutions
1617 Branch Street Suite
Alexandria, Louisiana 71302
318-443-0189
Contact person: Sandra "Candy" Christophe