447: Hire the Formerly Incarcerated, with Shelley Winner

Dec 23, 2019

Shelley Winner, a Restorative Justice activist and tech specialist, dives into the transformative power of hiring formerly incarcerated individuals. She shares her personal journey from incarceration to a successful tech career, revealing how many organizations benefit from employing this often-overlooked workforce. Winner discusses the stark statistics around recidivism and unemployment, advocating for inclusive hiring practices. Her insights highlight not just the potential for social change but also the proven value that justice-involved individuals bring to companies.

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ANECDOTE

Childhood Environment

Shelley Winner grew up with teen parents in poverty, her father being an addict and dealer.
Her environment lacked positive role models and exposed her to substance abuse early on.

ANECDOTE

The Loser's Loop

Following her father's path, Winner became involved in drugs and dealing, leading to incarceration.
This cycle, termed the "loser's loop," highlights how negative parental influences impact children's lives.

ANECDOTE

Turning Point

Winner's pregnancy motivated her to break the cycle, leading her to a faith-based treatment program.
Prison, offering rehabilitative programs, unexpectedly became a turning point in her life.

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Shelley Winner: Restorative Justice Shelley Winner is a Restorative Justice Activist whose goal is to change the world, reduce crime, and advocate for justice involved people all while helping companies improve productivity and revenues. She is also a technology specialist, is very active in the restorative justice movement in San Francisco and wants to educate the public about the benefits of hiring the formerly incarcerated. Through her work with Winner’s Circle, she is closing the gap between soon to be released inmates and technology companies by developing and delivering training to inmates and helping technology companies create internships for justice involved individuals. In this conversation, Shelley shares her story of moving from incarceration to successful employment in the technology industry. We highlight how some organizations are leading in this work and what the research shows about companies that are helping to unlock the formerly incarcerated workforce. Key Points “There isn't anyone you couldn't learn to love once you've heard their story.” -Fred Rogers 95% of people incarcerated will be released back to communities. The formerly incarcerated are five times more likely to be unemployed than the general population. “Within organizations that have hired those with a criminal record, 82% of managers rate the value workers with a criminal record bring to the organization as similar to or greater than that of those without a record.” -Society for Human Resource Management Be an advocate. Research what other organizations are doing on this. Begin by reading the SHRM report. Resources Mentioned Hiring the Formerly Incarcerated is Best for Your Team (Shelley’s TED talk) Winner’s Circle (Shelley’s organization) Getting Talent Back to Work by Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Out of Prison & Out of Work: Unemployment Among Formerly Incarcerated People by Prison Policy Initiative Embracing Formerly Incarcerated Workers: Things HR Should Consider by CareerMinds Facts & Trends by The National Reentry Resource Center Big Tech's Newest Experiment in Criminal-Justice Reform in The Atlantic The Last Mile JPMorgan Chase Joins Second Chance Efforts to Reduce Obstacles to Employment Related Episodes Sin by Silence, with Olivia Klaus (episode 103) Find Courage to Speak When It Matters Most, with Allan McDonald (episode 229) The Choice for Compassion, with Edith Eger (episode 336) How to Get Moving, with Scott Harrison (episode 374) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.