First Resource Fair For Parolees Held In Sacramento

The fair was held in conjunction with a six-month program run by the Sacramento County Office of Education and the California Department of Corrections.  

Rosaline Sarente has been in the program for a week and is hopeful she can find a job when she graduates.   

"It's helping us to be able to get some help and find places that will hire you now that we have a felony on our record," she says. "So, it's just good resources that you could get here and they really do help you. You know, if you're really serious about changing and getting what you need, you could get the help here." 

Organizers say the six-month program has a recidivism rate of about 15 percent for graduates which is about one-fifth the state average for parolees.

The program helps parolees with substance abuse counseling, higher education, job placement, and  vocational training.

Jason Conner was one of 260 parolees who attended the resource fair at Mather Field.  He recently got a job after completing the program, but is hoping to find a better job through the resource fair. 

"It's a lot of networking. You embrace a lot of good people," he says. "It keeps you around positiveness which is good for a person that's fresh out on parole. It just gives you a sense of encouragement."

The fair featured about 30 vendors who provided information about employment, education, and substance abuse treatment.

This was the first time the organizers had held such a fair in Sacramento. They say they hope to hold one every three months.