Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Frequently Asked Questions
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1. Can offender workforce development help me find a job?
Offender workforce development is not a job placement entity. Individuals who have been released and are seeking employment assistant should utilize their local Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services One-Stop. Many One-Stops offer job readiness workshops and may be able to provide referrals to other community services. One-Stop locations can be found at http://jfs.ohio.gov/owd/wia/wiamap.stm.
2. Can I get a list of employers who hire ex-offenders?
Workforce Development Administrators do not distribute
lists of employers. Many employers have advised that while
they are willing to hire those with the skills they need,
they are disenchanted when their name appears on an
"ex-offender employer list" and mass distributed without
regard to the employment requirements.
Individuals seeking employment assistance should utilize the
local Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services One-Stop.
Many One-Stops offer job readiness workshops and may be able
to provide referrals to other community services to assist
with job placement and retention. One-Stop locations can be
found at
http://jfs.ohio.gov/owd/wia/wiamap.stm.
3. How can I assist individuals to obtain and maintain employment?
If your business has staffing needs, let our team work
with you to locate the individual(s) to become part of your
workforce based on the skill sets, work experience, and
background requirements you desire.
If you are a community agency that has program and/or
resource opportunities to assist individual's with a
criminal record to prepare for, obtain, and maintain
employment please join our growing network of referral
agencies by contacting our team to discuss opportunities to
link eligible individuals to your services.
Regional workshops on various topics regarding the
employability of individuals with criminal histories are
available for workforce development professionals to enhance
staff knowledge and strategies for working with this
population.
Contact:
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
Office of Offender Reentry
770 West Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43222
(614) 728-1534
4. Does offender workforce development supplement or provide grant assistance to employers who hire ex-offenders?
Offender workforce development does not supplement or provide grant funding to employers. However, assistance and information regarding the Federal Bonding Program and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) will be provided to you.
5. Can offender workforce development expunge my criminal history?
No. You will need to contact the Clerk of Courts in the county where you were convicted to obtain information regarding the expungement process. They have access to all of the documents and information to ensure completion of the sentence requirements and determine your eligibility for application.