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City Council approves Nutter PREP Legislation
Submitted by Councilman Goode on Thu, 11/01/2007 - 12:35pm.
New legislation offers $10,000 Tax Credit or Grant for hiring Ex-Offenders
(PHILADELPHIA, November 1, 2007)— Philadelphia City Council has unanimously approved the Philadelphia Re-Entry Employment Program (“PREP”) Bill introduced by City Councilman At-Large W. Wilson Goode, Jr. this fall. The legislation augments Goode’s existing Job Creation Tax Credit Law – which is helping to create over 2500 new jobs - with a new initiative created by former councilman and Democratic Mayoral Nominee Michael A. Nutter. The new legislation will grant a $10,000-per job credit against City business privilege taxes for 3 years to companies that create new jobs for ex-offenders – but the company must agree to provide tuition support for the education or training of each qualifying employee. The PREP Bill, as amended, will now also offer a $10,000 grant to non-profit organizations in lieu of the tax credit.
“This new initiative will be the most comprehensive approach to re-entry for ex-offenders that we’ve crafted – it is a crucial step in addressing crime, violence, and the rate of prison recidivism in our city,” Councilman Goode said.
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One step in the right
One step in the right direction. Thank you.
PREP is more than a step
This is the type of program that will actually do the most to stop crime and prevent senseless tragedies that occurred this week. People need to be given opportunity and hope for a better life. This legislation is the kind of thing that needs to be augmented with training programs, material support for professional clothing and materials, as well as basic mentoring and networking.
There are a lot of reasons that people commit crimes. Desperation is a huge part of the equation. Someone doesn't hold up a Dunkin Donuts and then kill a police officer unless they are totally disconnected from social values. How do people get that way? It has to be connected to people's inability to see other, more positive, choices. We've got to create those opportunities.
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Thanks, as well.
There are no excuses for some criminal's horrible, horrible choices but as we consider the spate of recent recent shootings of police officers and former police officers, its important to remember that several of the shooters had previously went away for serious sentences, only to return unemployed or barely employed and essentially unemployable. Working to break the cycle of recidivism with programs like this is actually one of the most cost effective ways government can work to reduce crime, especially as compared to the cost of continually building larger and larger prisons.
I hope this is
a wild success.
PUP members voted to endorse this
I bet that's what put it over the top. Just kidding, but it's cool. Of course, we need more jobs across the board period, but it doesn't hurt to give an extra incentive that might prevent some repeat offenders.
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