Memphis Community Supervision Offices Hosts Offender Job Fair

MEMPHIS – In an effort to assist the offender population in Shelby County and promote successful reentry, the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) held a Career and Resource Fair yesterday at the District Office located on Crump Boulevard.  Employers and representatives from agencies around Memphis were onsite to help individuals with a criminal record bridge the gap and find gainful employment. 

During the Resource Fair, staff provided also offered clients training on soft skills to help them gain employment.  Experts taught the clients tips on motivational speaking, dressing for an interview and what to expect during an interview. This is a new addition to the Resource Fair and according to Employment Specialist Candi Benson, these new tips make the clients more confident about the interviewing process.  Benson went on to add, “This is new to the traditional fairs we hold. It gives us the opportunity to offer offenders motivational words and tips about interviewing before they go into the job fair.”

This event brought together all of TDOC’s Shelby County resources  including the Memphis Day Reporting Center and the three District Offices located in Memphis.  Employment Specialist Candi Benson believes this collaboration between the districts helps the department better serve the offender population by combining their resources.

 Lolitha Barbee, another Employment Specialist, said it’s important that TDOC bring employers to the offices. “Sometimes it’s hard for our clients to go out and find employment. So, they can come here and find gainful employment. They can feel comfortable in a setting they’re familiar with. Employers who are here are willing to give a second chance to those on probation or parole.”

Barbee said the goal is to have clients get gainful employment. “We want them to be successful in the community and self-sufficient. If they have gainful employment they are less likely to recidivate.”

Offenders currently serving on probation or parole as well as ex-offenders were encouraged to attend the event.

TDOC would like to thank the following community partners that attended the event.  Those partners include Trinity Ministries, Hart Center, Comprehensive Staff, Economic Opportunity, Memphis Public Library, Seedco and Kevin Raiford with Raiford Hot Wings.