Each year more than 13,000 people come out of Michigan prisons and return to their communities. For many with criminal records, job prospects after often few and far between.
Sakthi Automotive has made hiring people leaving the prison population a priority at its plant in southwest Detroit.
More than a third of the work force at the Tier One auto supplier has a criminal past, according to Alfredo Newman, who is in charge of hiring for the company.
Some of the workers have committed very serious crimes, including murder, but all have served their time and are seeking a second chance.
"This is not a charity program," said Newman. "These individuals have been productive. They've added to the bottom line, they've kept up with the quota, they've provided quality parts we need to produce."
Sakthi produces under carriage components for General Motors and Ford Motor Company.
Eric Stewart, who served five years in prison, is now a maintenance technician for the new and very expensive machines on the factory floor.
"I wasn't looking for anybody to give anything," Stewart said. "I was just looking for an opportunity."
A group of employers were invited to a roundtable luncheon Tuesday hosted by Barbara McQuade, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. The meeting was held on the campus of Wayne State University in partnership with the office of Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, the Michigan Department of Corrections, Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation, United States Bureau of Prisons and the United States Probation Department.
McQuade told 7 Action News there is a business case for hiring returning citizens.
"When we pay $34,000 a year to incarcerate a single individual it sure makes a lot of sense to invest in people by hiring them," McQuade said. "We learn that individual recidivism rates are cut in half when people have a job."
Sakhti Automotive received a federal grant and Newman says there are also tax benefits available to companies who hire returning citizens.
Damone Mattison, 42, went to prison twice, serving 13 years total. He was hired by Sakthi in April 2015 and has advanced to become a production line leader. He was determined to make the most of his second chance.
"This meant a lot for me, not only for the learning experience, but also to turn my life around and become a productive member of society and the community," Mattison said.
Not every hire makes it, but Newman said the decision to hire returning citizens has been good for the company and he intends to hire more.
Sakthi is looking to hire 300 more employees for their new casting and foundry facility, which is scheduled to begin operations in April 2017.
