Building Bridges: From Conviction to Employment

Wednesday, January 15, 2003

Herbert Welte Hall
Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, CT

Join professionals from the fields of workforce development, state agencies, business, legislative and judicial branches of government in examining the barriers encountered by ex-offenders when seeking employment and how the national pilot “Justice Reinvestment” initiative may help.

Featuring Nationally Known Speakers:

MICHAEL JACOBSON, Ph.D., Professor, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
JAMES AUSTIN, Ph.D., Director, Institute of Crime, Justice, and Corrections at George Washington University
ERIC CADORA, Grants Officer, Open Society Institute, New York
Guests of Honor: Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin B. Sullivan and House Speaker Moira K. Lyons

 

8:00 Registration/Continental Breakfast

 

8:30 Welcoming Remarks

 

9:00 Keynote Address: Michael Jacobson, Eric Cadora and Dr. James Austin

 

10:00 From Conviction to Employment: Two former offenders discuss their personal experiences.

 

10:45 Panel Presentation, “The Role of the Ex-Offender in Today’s Economy”

Moderator: Dr. Stephen Cox, Chair, Dept. of Criminology & Criminal Justice, CCSU

Sam Agnello, Employment Sup., Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation

Frank Crandall, Educational Training of Wethersfield /New London

Nora Duncan, CT Association of Non-profits

Craig Hoekenga, CEO, Microboard Processing Inc., Shelton

John Tirinzonie, Director Job Development, CT Department of Labor

12:00 Luncheon (provided) in Alumni Hall, located in CCSU’s new Student Center

Speakers: Wallace Barnes, Chair, CT Employment and Training Commission

Shaun Cashman, Commissioner, CT Department of Labor

Patricia Wilson-Coker, Commissioner, CT Department of Social Services

1:30 Briefing on Justice Reinvestment Initiative by Eric Cadora and Bob Schall, Director of the Self-Help Ventures Fund
2:00 Panel Presentation, “Reinvesting Justice Dollars in the Employment of Ex-Offenders”

Moderator: Rep. William R. Dyson, New Haven

William Carbone, Director of Court Support Services, CT Judicial Branch

Dr. Patrick Hynes, Director of Program Development, CT Dept. of Correction

Rep. Michael Lawlor, East Haven

Lawrence McHugh, President, Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce

Gail Sturges, Director of Forensics, CT DMHAS

Renee La Mark Muir, Program Review and Investigations Committee

3:30 Next Steps: Representative William R. Dyson