Working with Conviction

Our Mission

Our mission is to find creative ways to mentor convicted felons who are highly motivated, dedicated to self improvement, and capable of securing employment.

Our Ultimate Goal

Our ultimate goal is to decrease recidivism and enhance public safety in the City of Richmond.

Our Program

• Location: Probation & Parole District 1
• Group Meetings: Monday & Wednesday (8:30 – 9:30 a.m.)
• The most motivated individuals on supervision who are seeking employment are hand selected by the probation and parole officers to participate in the group.
• The group meetings create an environment where the participants can openly discuss the obstacles that arise while they are seeking employment.
• The Working with Conviction Team reaches out to other agencies and non-profit organizations to provide the necessary services to the participants.
• Every Monday, a guest speaker is invited to speak to the group. Guest speakers are generally from other agencies or non-profit organizations and share knowledge; however, sometimes they are individuals who have been on supervision themselves and are willing to share a success story as motivation.
• The staff also educates local employers about the benefits of hiring an individual with a criminal record and arranges for employers to recruit from the group.
• Working with Conviction hopes to increase employment through increasing the participants self esteem, making the necessary services available, and connecting participants with employers who are willing to hire them.

Our Participants

Out of 2,500+ individuals on supervision with District One, only 10 are selected to participate in our program at any given time.

To participate, individuals must:

• Be hand selected and referred to the program by their probation officer
• Apply to the program
• Undergo a screening process
• Voluntarily choose to participate in the program - thus learning responsibility, dedication, and reliability

Our Inspiration

Our inspiration for Working With Conviction comes from an employment program created by SPO Cliff Cummings of Pocatello, Idaho.

Our Motivation

Individuals who are released from incarceration and secure stable employment are far less likely to become re-incarcerated as opposed to their unemployed counterparts. Stable employment is one of the keys to stopping the revolving door of the criminal justice system.

Employer Incentives

Work Opportunity Tax Credit

It is a Federal Tax Credit that reduces the tax liability of private for profit employers who hire individuals with a criminal record. More information can be found at www.vec.virginia.gov

Federal Bonding Program

It provides fidelity bonding insurance coverage to individuals with criminal histories. More information can be found on our Federal Bonding Program page.