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SCHEDULED FOR 2027:
New Westville, IN, Prison To
Focus on Rehabilitation and Care
Near LaPorte, Indiana, construction is in the works for the state's largest prison, which will hold more than 4,000 inmates and is scheduled to open in 2027. The current 70-year old Westville Correctional Facility was originally a hospital, but in 1979, the building was converted. As the years wore on, it has become a security risk for both guards and inmates, and was never planned to serve the function of improving the futures of inmates.
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In 2023 the Indiana General Assembly funded the plans for the new facility–one that was "more about rehabilitation and less about punishment."
True to the new mission, the state is building a modern facility, with programs and health care in mind. It is designed to create an environment for enrichment, with new rules to help provide safety for both inmates and guards, with 18,000 square feet of educational space for expanded vocational training opportunities. Another primary benefit is that the new building will allow better delivery of health care including a 240-bed mental health unit, and a separate addiction unit.
This is an exciting step for our state and for all those who believe that reducing crime and recidivism begins inside these facilities, with education and attention to health.
PICTURED: Top: Architectural drawing of new Westville Correctional Facility, Bottom: Current facility.
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EMPLOYER RELATIONSHIP MANAGER:
Tyler Carlson Builds Bridges to Businesses
2nd Chance Indiana is growing! We are excited to add Tyler Carlson to our 2CI team as our employer relationship manager. He will improve the connections with our employer partners, expand our online job application options, and allow us to have a finger on the pulse of employers' anticipated staffing needs.
Tyler is experienced in hiring reentrants, has top management background, and has a great big heart for those coming out of incarceration. Welcome Tyler!
Pictured: (LtoR) 2nd Chance Indiana's Doug Evans, Jim Cotterill, Sherry Jackson, Tyler Carlson, Nancy Cotterill, & Scott Whiting, not pictured: Molly Oliver and Dewayne Whitney.
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A HEART FOR REENTRANTS:
Hot Shot Staffing Has Same Goals
2nd chance Indiana's Director of Transportation Molly Oliver recently met with Terri Jones, the CEO and Founder of Hot Shot Staffing. Established in 2021, the company is dedicated to providing resources and employment opportunities for reentrants and veterans. They staff in various sectors, including general labor, warehousing, light industrial, manufacturing, logistics, landscaping, and janitorial services.
Jones is committed to empowering individuals by offering them the tools and opportunities needed to reintegrate into the workforce successfully, which melds well with the mission of 2nd Chance Indiana. As the company continues to expand, we look forward to maintaining a strong partnership that will foster job opportunities for reentrants and help for those who may need transportation services to and from work.
Pictured: Terri Jones, CEO and founder of Hot Shot Staffing
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AFTER 9 YEARS:
Churches, Business, & Government
Join to Improve Futures
Nine years ago, when Jim and Nancy Cotterill founded Unite Indy, most people coming out of prison had a slim-to-nil chance of getting a job, and when they did, it was $7 an hour for sweeping floors. That would have been great decades ago, but it won’t pay for an apartment and food today. We knew we'd have to unite the efforts of churches, business, and the government, to affect real change–and this community approach is working.
Today, renamed 2nd Chance Indiana, we cooperate with churches whose members mentor and write to inmates in prison, businesses are not only employers of reentrants, many are supporters of our work, and without our local and state governments providing funds to transport reentrants, most would not have been able to keep their jobs.
Finding success after years in prison is a complicated business that requires a complicated effort. But for so many, it has made the difference between going back into incarceration, or making a new life for themselves and their families. Get the whole story, Here!
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TRUSTED MENTORS:
Big Send-Off
For Ed Witulski
2CI's Scott Whiting joined Trusted Mentor's CEO Costeena Wheathersby, to celebrate Ed Witulski's, long association with the organization, as he moves out of the area. Ed has been an important partner in our effort to secure mentors for reentrants, and as the mentor match coordinator for the the organization, Witulski has been crucial to the success of their mentoring efforts. He has worked closely with 2nd Chance Indiana's Scott Whiting and Doug Evans to help organize mentorship opportunities for reentrants previously incarcerated in Marion County Adult Detention Center. Ed will be moving out of the area, and he will be greatly missed. Photo (LtoR) 2CI's V.P. Scott Whiting, Trusted Mentor's Executive Director, Costeena Weathersby, and Mentor Match Coordinator, Ed Wiltulski.
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Why Support 2nd Chance Indiana?
2nd Chance Indiana's team works to reduce recidivism and rebuild lives through the dignity of work. In the process we believe that our efforts can also have a profound, multi-generational impact by reducing poverty, crime, and homelessness.
Our major focus is to assist the thousands of inmates returning to communities across Indiana after long-term incarceration. 2nd Chance Indiana provides mentored job training inside the correctional facility, and a jobs website for those with a criminal record, 2ndChanceIN.com, which is filled with job opportunities and support agencies to help reentrants get back to work, support themselves and their families, and contribute to the economic improvement of their neighborhoods.
How You Can Support Jobs for Justice- Involved Individuals
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Support For Reentrants After Incarcertion:
Since 2017 UNITE INDY, now 2nd Chance Indiana, has provided a free web-based system, 2ndChanceIN.com, that connects those released from incarceration with jobs offered by our 45 employer partners, willing to hire people with a criminal record and pay them a living wage.
The site also offers a huge network of support organizations that can help with housing, drug abatement, licensing, clothing and so much more.
A good job found quickly after release from incarceration can drive down recidivism about 90%, according to studies. Unemployment is connected to poverty, a criminal record, and re-incarceration. Our poorest neighborhoods contain many who have not been able to get good jobs because they have a criminal record, but 2nd Chance Indiana not only connects them with jobs, it also provides van transportation to many sites to help those who do not have affordable or reliable transportation. In some neighborhoods of Marion County unemployment is extremely high and poverty remains the overwhelming cause of violence—as well as lack of opportunity for children.
You can help us to help a reentrant today, Here! To know more, go to 2nd Chance Indiana now. There are a number of choices that are all secure and safe. By sending your tax deductible gift* now we can have a greater impact meeting needs in our community.
Many, many thanks!
*Unite Indy, Inc. dba 2nd Chance Indiana is approved under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3) as a Public Charity, donors can deduct contributions they make under IRC Section 170.
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Corporate Partners
A big Thank YOU to our Corporate Partners for their unwavering support which makes it possible for us to provide our services at no charge to job applicants and employers!
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