Seventy-two inmates nearing the end of their sentence attended the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office (VBSO) inmate job fair on Tuesday, Oct. 7, in the jail’s Indoor Recreation Yard. The event featured resources from 15 local employers/organizations willing to give offenders a second chance.
The inmate job fair – the third held at the Virginia Beach Correctional Center since September 2023 – was hosted by Sheriff Rocky Holcomb, the VBSO Inmate Reintegration and Modified Incarceration Programs, and City of Virginia Beach Adult Correctional Services. Inmates who have release dates within 90 days of Oct. 7 were eligible to attend the job fair, which provided information and contacts to assist with finding work post-incarceration.
There were 15 employers, organizations and career specialists on-site, including Traffix, Tidewater Community College Welding Program, Recovery for Life, Virginia Wesleyan University, and Virginia Beach Probation and Parole.
Employment is critical to offenders’ successful reintegration into society. Studies show that former inmates who maintain a job for one year post-release have a recidivism rate of just 16% compared with 52% for those who are unable to maintain employment (Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce). However, lack of employment opportunities is a significant barrier, and unemployment averages about 30% for adults with criminal records.
Holcomb and the VBSO have been working to address this issue at the Virginia Beach Correctional Center through job fairs, the GED program, vocational training, and the Reentry Program, which includes classes in resume-writing and job interview techniques.
“Connecting inmates with employers is one of the most impactful things we can do to support rehabilitation and public safety. Today, 15 employers met with 72 men and women who are ready to turn a new page,” said Holcomb. “Each connection made is an opportunity to reduce recidivism and strengthen our community.”
