Jobs for Non-Violent Offenders: Everyone Deserves a Second Chance 🙏

Let me tell you about Mike. (That's not his real name, but his story is.) Mike did two years for a non-violent drug offense when he was 22. He made a mistake. He paid for it. He got out ready to turn his life around—ready to work, to contribute, to be a productive member of society.

But here's what nobody tells you about getting out of prison: the sentence never really ends. 🚪

Mike applied to 47 jobs in Port St. Lucie. Forty-seven. He had a GED. He was willing to do anything—construction, warehouse work, fast food. But every application had that box: "Have you ever been convicted of a felony?" And every time he checked it, his application went straight to the trash.

After six months of rejection, Mike gave up. He went back to what he knew. And now he's back in prison, costing Florida taxpayers $25,000 a year, while his two kids grow up without a father.

This isn't justice. This is a broken system. And as Mayor, I'm going to fix it. 💪

The Hard Truth About Recidivism 📊

Here's a number that should keep you up at night: over 60% of released prisoners reoffend within three years if they can't find stable employment. Sixty percent. That means for every ten people who walk out of prison doors, six will be back behind bars before long.

But here's the flip side that nobody talks about: when formerly incarcerated people find jobs, that recidivism rate drops by half. Half. 📉

Let that sink in. A job isn't just a paycheck—it's literally the difference between a person rebuilding their life and returning to prison. It's the difference between a father coming home to his kids or disappearing into the system again. It's the difference between a taxpayer and a tax burden.

In Port St. Lucie, we have thousands of residents with criminal records. Thousands of people who've served their time and just want a fair shot. Thousands of potential workers who could be contributing to our economy, paying taxes, and supporting their families.

Instead, we've created a permanent underclass—people who can't find housing, can't find work, and have no choice but to return to the streets just to survive. That's not making us safer. That's not "tough on crime." That's just stupid policy that costs us all.

Why Second Chance Employment Matters to Everyone 🤝

Look, I get it. Some of you are reading this and thinking, "Steven, why should I care about helping criminals?" Fair question. Let me give you four reasons why this matters to every single person in Port St. Lucie—even if you've never broken a law in your life.

1. Public Safety (Yes, Really) 🛡️

You want to know what actually makes communities safer? It's not longer prison sentences. It's not tougher laws. It's employment.

Study after study shows that employed ex-offenders are significantly less likely to commit new crimes. When people have stable income, legitimate purpose, and something to lose, they don't reoffend. They become stakeholders in their community instead of outsiders looking in.

Every job we help someone get isn't just charity—it's an investment in a safer neighborhood for your kids. It's one less person thinking about breaking into your car. It's one more person watching out for your street instead of trying to survive on it.

2. Your Wallet 💰

Here's some math that matters: it costs Florida about $25,000 per year to incarcerate one person. One person. Multiply that by the hundreds of PSL residents cycling in and out of prison, and you're looking at millions of taxpayer dollars going to warehouses of human potential.

Now flip it: every person who gets a job becomes a taxpayer instead of a tax burden. They buy groceries, pay rent, spend money at local businesses. They contribute to Social Security and Medicare. They strengthen our economy instead of draining it.

Conservative estimates show that reducing recidivism through employment programs saves taxpayers $5 for every $1 invested. That's not just good policy—that's fiscal responsibility. 📈

3. Family Stability 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

When parents can't find work, families fall apart. Kids grow up in poverty. They move from place to place. They lose stability, lose hope, and too often, lose their way.

But when a parent gets a second chance at employment, everything changes. Kids see their parent working hard and staying straight. They have food on the table and a roof that doesn't move. They have a role model showing them that mistakes don't have to define your future.

We're not just helping individuals here—we're breaking cycles of poverty and incarceration that span generations. We're giving kids a fighting chance to be something their parents couldn't be.

4. It's the Right Thing to Do ✝️

I'm not a preacher, but I know this: every major faith tradition teaches redemption. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism—they all believe in second chances. They all teach that people can change, that forgiveness matters, that we shouldn't define human beings by their worst moment.

We've got people in Port St. Lucie who made mistakes years ago—sometimes decades ago—and they're still paying for them every single day. They can't get an apartment. They can't get a loan. They can't get a job. They've served their sentence, but society keeps punishing them.

That's not justice. That's cruelty disguised as public safety. And I'm done pretending it's okay.

Steven's Second Chance Employer Program 🎯

I'm not just talking about this problem—I've got a plan to solve it. As Mayor, I'm launching the Second Chance Employer Program: a comprehensive initiative to connect qualified candidates with criminal records to employers who are ready to give them a shot.

Here's how it works:

Partnering with Local Businesses 🤝

We're going door-to-door to Port St. Lucie businesses—not to shame them, but to educate them. Most employers have no idea about the incredible resources available to them if they hire second chance candidates.

Did you know the federal government will give employers up to $9,600 per hire through the Work Opportunity Tax Credit? Did you know there's free insurance to protect against theft or dishonesty? Did you know there are workforce development programs that will train workers at no cost to the employer?

Most businesses don't know this. We're going to tell them. We're going to build a network of Second Chance Employers—businesses that get it, that see the value in giving people a shot, and that get rewarded for doing the right thing.

City Hiring Initiative 🏛️

Here's where we lead by example. We're going to review every city job requirement to eliminate unnecessary barriers for non-violent offenders.

Look, if someone has a 10-year-old drug possession charge, should that really disqualify them from working in parks maintenance? From driving a city vehicle? From administrative work? Of course not. We're not talking about putting people with violent records in sensitive positions—we're talking about common-sense reform that matches the job to the risk.

City government should be a model employer. If we're asking private businesses to give second chances, we better be willing to do it ourselves.

Pre-Release Job Fairs 📋

This is one of my favorite parts of the plan. We're working with the Florida Department of Corrections to hold job fairs inside prisons—before people even get out.

Picture this: an inmate who's six months from release meets with PSL employers, interviews for real jobs, and has a start date waiting for them the day they walk free. They leave prison with a paycheck already lined up, a purpose, and a reason to stay straight.

This isn't radical—it's been done successfully in other cities. And it works. When people have jobs waiting, they don't go back to old habits. They start their new life on day one.

Training Partnerships 🎓

Not everyone coming out of prison has job-ready skills. That's where CareerSource Florida comes in. We're partnering with them to connect returning citizens with job training, certification programs, and placement services.

Want to get your CDL? We can help. Need HVAC certification? We've got programs. Looking for construction skills? We'll get you trained. Whatever it takes to make someone employable, we're going to provide it.

Record Expungement Support 📄

Here's something most people don't know: many criminal records can be sealed or expunged after a certain period. But the process is complicated, expensive, and confusing. Most people who qualify never even try.

We're changing that. We're creating a program to help eligible residents navigate the expungement process—from paperwork to court appearances to final approval. We're partnering with legal aid organizations to provide free or low-cost assistance.

When we can get someone's record cleared, we open doors that were permanently closed. That's life-changing stuff.

Public Awareness Campaign 📢

Finally, we're going to change the conversation in Port St. Lucie. Too many people think "felon" and picture a dangerous criminal. The reality? Most people with records are regular folks who made a mistake—often a long time ago—and just want to move on.

We're launching a public awareness campaign to educate our community about second chance hiring. We're going to share success stories. We're going to highlight the businesses doing the right thing. We're going to show PSL that redemption isn't just a moral value—it's smart economics that makes us all safer and stronger.

The Resources Available (This Is Huge) 💎

Now let me blow your mind for a second. The federal and state government have created an absolute goldmine of resources for employers willing to hire second chance candidates. Most businesses have no idea this stuff exists. Let me break it down:

Look at that list again. Tax credits up to $9,600. Free insurance. Free training. Free placement services. The government is literally paying employers to hire second chance workers—and most businesses don't even know it exists.

As Mayor, I'm going to make sure every employer in Port St. Lucie knows about these programs. We're going to have workshops, one-on-one consultations, and a dedicated city liaison to help businesses access every dollar available.

This isn't charity. This is good business. 💼

Success Stories: It Works When We Try 🌟

I know some of you are still skeptical. "Sounds nice, Steven, but does it actually work?" Fair question. Let me give you some real examples from cities that have done this right.

Indianapolis, Indiana: Project Indy 🏙️

Indianapolis launched a comprehensive second chance employment initiative in 2016. They partnered with over 200 local employers, held regular job fairs for returning citizens, and provided wraparound services including housing assistance and transportation.

The result? Over 1,500 formerly incarcerated residents found stable employment. Recidivism among participants dropped by 40%. The city estimates they've saved over $12 million in incarceration costs. And participating employers report that second chance workers often outperform their peers in attendance, loyalty, and work ethic.

"These are some of our best employees," one manufacturing CEO told the Indianapolis Star. "They know this is their shot, and they work harder because of it."

Albuquerque, New Mexico: There's a Better Way 🌵

Albuquerque took a creative approach. They created a city-funded jobs program that hired homeless individuals and ex-offenders to clean up public spaces—at $9/hour, paid daily in cash.

Sounds expensive? Here's the twist: the program actually saved the city money. Every day someone works instead of panhandling or getting arrested, the city saves on police calls, emergency services, and jail costs. The program has been so successful that it's been replicated in dozens of cities.

But the real success is human. Participants report reduced substance abuse, improved mental health, and renewed sense of purpose. Many have transitioned to full-time private sector employment. Some have even started their own businesses.

Atlanta, Georgia: Ban the Box 🍑

Atlanta implemented "ban the box" policies for city employment—removing criminal history questions from initial job applications. They also created a dedicated office of reentry services to connect returning citizens with employers.

In the first three years, city hiring of ex-offenders increased by 300%. Private sector partners reported similar success. And here's the kicker: a comprehensive study found no increase in workplace incidents or theft. Zero. The fears employers had simply didn't materialize.

"We were worried about liability and safety," one HR director admitted. "Turns out, people with records are just... people. Some are great workers, some aren't. Same as everyone else."

What These Cities Teach Us 📚

Three lessons from these success stories:

First, this works when we commit to it. These aren't flukes or pilot programs that fizzled out. These are sustained, serious investments that produce real results.

Second, employers become believers. Almost every success story includes business owners who were skeptical at first, then became advocates after seeing the results. Good workers are hard to find—and second chance candidates often become the most dedicated employees.

Third, the benefits go beyond the individual. Families stay together. Kids stay in school. Neighborhoods get safer. Taxpayers save money. This is a rising tide that lifts entire communities.

Port St. Lucie can do this. We should do this. And as your Mayor, I will do this.

The Bottom Line: Redemption Is a Community Value ❤️

I want to bring this back to something personal for a moment. I've spent 17 years in public service. I've worked with the Sheriff's Office. I've protected our nuclear plant. I've run businesses and raised a family right here in PSL.

And I've learned something: the measure of a community isn't how it treats the powerful and privileged. It's how it treats people who've made mistakes and are trying to make it right.

We're all human. We've all messed up. Most of us were lucky enough that our mistakes didn't land us in prison. But if they had, wouldn't we want someone to give us a second chance? Wouldn't we want the opportunity to prove we've changed?

That's what this is about. It's about looking our neighbors in the eye and saying, "I believe in you. I believe you can change. And I'm willing to give you the chance to prove it."

That's not weakness. That's not being "soft on crime." That's strength. That's faith in human potential. That's the kind of community I want to live in, and the kind of city I want to lead.

When I'm Mayor, Port St. Lucie will be a leader in second chance employment. We'll be the city other municipalities look to as a model. We'll show that redemption isn't just a sermon—it's smart policy that makes us safer, stronger, and more prosperous.

Because at the end of the day, we're not just building a better budget or a better economy. We're building a better community—one job, one family, one second chance at a time. 🙌

Got a story about second chances? Know a business that should be part of our employer network? Just want to talk about how we make PSL better for everyone? Drop me a line. Let's build something amazing together.