Recent Legislation Establishing Standards for
Hiring People with a Criminal Record
February 2007-Six cities and five states in the US have already established hiring policies to prohibit the discrimination of people with criminal records, and many more are considering adopting such policies.
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2006 Crime and Justice Index (CJI)
February 2007-Diane Williams, Safer Foundation President/CEO, and member of the Chicago Metropolis 2020 Index Advisory Council provides her expert guidance to the development of the 2006 Crime and Justice Index (CJI), an examination of the region’s crime rates, increasing prison population and challenges facing ex-prisoners.
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Testimony: include individuals with a criminal record as Party to the Civil Rights Act Of 1964
September 2006 - Chicago City Council Committee on Human Relations hearing written testimony of Diane Williams, President and CEO, Safer Foundation
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Safer Foundation President testifies at United States Senate
Washington, DC – B. Diane Williams, President & CEO, of the Safer Foundation, testified September 20, 2006 before the United States Senate Committee on Corrections and Rehabilitations Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee to the importance of federal support for programs dealing with offender reentry.
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Mass Hiring
April 2007-The Safer Foundation will be conducting a Mass Hiring for CRCIs (Correctional Residential Counselor I). Applicants now have the opportunity to register to test and interview for this position.
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Model Programs, Implementing Coordinated and Effective "Service Systems"
Presented by Jodina Hicks at ICPA Conference in Vancouver, October 25, 2006
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Implementing Coordinated and Effective "Service Systems"
Presented by Diane Williams at ICPA Conference in Vancouver, October 25, 2006
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Ready4Work expands
April 2006 - Over the past two months the Safer Foundation opened three new Ready4Work locations in Maywood, Harvey, and Chicago.
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Governor Blagojevich Marks One-Year Anniversary of Sheridan National Model Drug Prison & Reentry Program
January 2005 - On the one-year anniversary of the Sheridan National Model Drug Prison & Reentry program, Governor Rod Blagojevich today released results of an early evaluation of the program showing success in reducing crime and recidivism by as much as 66 percent. While noting that the young program – which is targeted to become the nation’s largest, state-run drug prison and reentry program of its kind – is still being developed, the Governor and national experts commended Sheridan for showing great promise in the fight against recidivism.
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New Safer Sheridan Satellite locations
March, 2006 - Due to the success of the Sheridan prison-based program, the Safer Foundation opened up two new Safer Sheridan Satellite locations in Peoria and Rockford.
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British Cabinet Minister visits Safer Foundation’s Ready4Work Program
September 2005 - The Safer Foundation and Public/Private Ventures (P/PV) hosted
David Blunkett MP, the UK’s Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on a visit
to Chicago’s Ready4Work site, one of 17 sites in the U.S. Department of Labor
funded national prisoner reentry demonstration. The visit was part of his
weeklong North American visit to learn about experiences and share best
practice on policy around welfare reform, employment, pensions, and prisoner
reentry.
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US Department of Labor Awards Safer Foundation $663,746
November 2005 - “The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded 30 grants totaling $19.8 million to faith- and community-based organizations to assist non-violent ex-offenders returning to their local communities."
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Congress can help former inmates re-enter society
November 2005 - The United States holds onto one of its most distinguished claims to fame: Our land of the free continues to boast the highest rate of incarceration in the world.
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Parolees' jobs hard to snag
December 2005 - But Safer Foundation places ex-offenders in positions that pay well and offer sense of hope. Darrell Hayes had been sent to prison four times in 11 years. He was 40 when he left prison in February. Now he says he finally has the support he needs to help turn his life around.
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North Lawndale Is Successful in Accreditation Audit
October 2005 - North Lanwndale Adult Transition Center received re-accreditation from the The American Correctional Association (ACA).
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ACA 135th Congress of Correction
August 2005 - Safer Foundation's B. Diane Williams and Jodina Hicks presented the Reducing Recidivism: Prison Reentry Planning workshop at the ACA 135th Congress of corrections. Please visit Safer's Library to view the presentation.
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Safer Foundation Selected to Lead Local Faith-Based Demonstration Project
Public/Private Ventures, which is administering a Federal grant to establish faith-based demonstration projects in various cities to assist formerly incarcerated young adults successfully reintegrate into their communities, has selected the Safer Foundation to spearhead the Chicago initiative.
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Safer Foundation Opens New Sheridan Correctional Center Satellite Office
July 2005 - Safer Foundation’s new Sheridan-South Community-based Satellite Office for formerly incarcerated individuals opened its doors in the West Englewood community today. Safer hosted a dedication ceremony and open house to introduce the new Sheridan Correctional Center Satellite Office to the community. The newly opened office was designed to meet the growing demand for more formerly incarcerated re-entry services on the South Side of Chicago, including technology training, substance abuse treatment, job placement assistance and re-entry counseling.
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Safer Selected as Provider for Illinois’ Sheridan Model Prison
The Illinois Department of Corrections has selected the Safer Foundation to provide employment readiness and placement services both in prison and in the community for the Sheridan model drug prison and reentry program.
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Harvey ELC Celebrates One-Year Anniversary
One year ago this past September, Safer’s Harvey Employment and Learning Center opened its doors and brought needed reentry services to the south suburban area of Cook County which is home to a large number of individuals returning with a criminal record.

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Williams Chairs Governor's Transition Sub-Committee
B. Diane Williams, President of the Safer Foundation, served as Chairperson of the Corrections Reform Sub-Committee on Parole and Reentry for Governor Rod Blagojevich’s Transition Team. Their purpose was to provide recommendations on ways to improve public safety for Illinois residents by reducing the number of repeat offenses.
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C.A.R.R.E. Convenes Fourth Annual Policy Conference
The Council of Advisors to Reduce Recidivism through Employment (C.A.R.R.E.) hosted more than 50 people on February 6 to discuss progress in reducing systemic barriers to offender employment. Attendees included state and county legislators, law enforcement and corrections officials, community-based providers, policy analysts, academics, and community representatives.
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U.S. Drug Policy Director Visits Safer
On October 21, 2002 John Walters, Director of the National Office of Drug Control Policy, visited Safer Foundation’s Crossroads Adult Transition Center.
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Safer Luncheon Celebrates Friends and the Future
On June 5 the the Safer Foundation held a 30th anniversary party celebrating its many friends who support a brighter future for individuals with a criminal record.
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North Lawndale ATC Earns ACA Accreditation
The one-year-old North Lawndale Adult Transition Center underwent its first American Correctional Association accreditation review in October 2001, earning a perfect score of 100% for both mandatory and non-mandatory standards.
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Pace Institute Recognized by Secretary of State
On February 11, 2002 Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White presented the Safer Foundation with an award recognizing the PACE Institute's literacy volunteer program.
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Caminos Mas Seguros/Safer Paths
November 2005 - A new program was instituted in 2005 that serves the Latino Community - Caminos Mas Seguros/Safer PATHS. This program is a Safer Foundation - Instituto Del Progreso Latino Partnership.
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Safer's New Site Serves South Chicago Suburbs
The Safer Foundation has opened a new site in Harvey Illinois to assist returning individuals with a record with a successful transition from prison to Chicago’s south suburban communities.
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The Road Back to Fatherhood
Many of Safer’s clients come from fatherless homes—and are now absent fathers themselves. To interrupt these generational cycles, Safer initiated the Father Reintegration Project (FRP) at Crossroads and North Lawndale Adult Transition Centers.
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30th Anniversary Luncheon Benefits Scholarship Fund
The Safer Foundation will celebrate 30 years of service June, 2002 with a luncheon for all of its friends and supporters.
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Safer Foundation Selected to Lead Local Faith-Based Demonstration Project
Public/Private Ventures, which is administering a Federal grant to establish faith-based demonstration projects in various cities to assist formerly incarcerated young adults successfully reintegrate into their communities, has selected the Safer Foundation to spearhead the Chicago initiative.
Full Story