FDP Virginia and Middle Peninsula Regional Security Center (MPRSC) located in Saluda, VA, are celebrating 15 years of cooperation with the centers rehabilitation program. The program allows inmate participants who are nearing their release date the opportunity to earn income in order to maintain financial support for their families and pay restitution. Only non-violent offenders are eligible.
“This is a program that we are extremely proud to be a part of,” explains John Carney, VP of sales & operations at FDP. “It requires extra work and commitment on the part of the company, but it is a win-win for the individuals, the state, taxpayers, and FDP.”
“At any given time there about 20 to 30 individuals enrolled in the program. They earn the same wages and pay taxes, the same as their non-program co-workers. These monies are used for child support payments and restitution. Whatever is left goes into the employee’s trust fund, helping him get established when he leaves the program.”
Work release programs create structured reentry into the mainstream. Many of the participants have little to no steady job experience and this opportunity can be invaluable. “Statistics show that on a national average over 50% of offenders will return to prison within three years,” noted Carney. “Only about 10% of the participants in this program are likely to wind up back in prison within that timeframe.”
An additional benefit to state taxpayers is that participants pay their own boarding costs from the wages earned.
“More often than not inmates in traditional programs are released with nothing but a bus ticket home and $100,” says Carney. “They have no job, no savings, and debt due to unpaid fines and court costs. The hopelessness of this situation is what causes most of them to return to the lifestyle that landed them in trouble in the first place. To date we have had over 900 graduates. I am very grateful to all the men who have come through our program, the folks at Middle Peninsula, and the FDP HR Department who all work very hard to make this program such a success.”
“This is highly successful and every company interested in helping their community should participate in a similar program.”
FDP Virginia, Inc is a company providing quality automotive original equipment and aftermarket products made in the USA for over 30 years.
For more information, visit: www.fdpbrakes.com.
