news-record.com

High Point's initiative to find work for ex-offenders is as much about reducing crime as it is jobs.

This week, city officials and the High Point Community Against Violence group contracted with America Works, a private New York-based business, to seek jobs for 33 former prison inmates who have returned to the community.

It's part of the city's ongoing unique and unconventional approach to fighting crime. The latest effort, however, did not win unanimous City Council support. Several members questioned spending money to find jobs for felons at a time when many residents have been hard hit by layoffs. One called it a "slap in the face."

But police Chief Jim Fealy responds that putting ex-offenders to work should be viewed as a crime-fighting tool. And having a job often is the critical factor in avoiding a return to criminal behavior that inevitably leads to another stretch behind bars.

America Works boasts a proven track record. Its program includes candidate prescreening, a job trial period and counseling. Clients aren't billed unless participants stay on the job for a specified period and employers may qualify for federal tax credits.

Similar efforts in cities with high crime rates have been well-received. An 18-month ex-offender program in Philadelphia reportedly lowered the recidivism rate to 5 percent compared to 65 percent nationally.

High Point's $100,000 cost -- $55,000 raised by community businesses -- will be money well-spent if the program produces the hoped-for results. The $3,000 per participant charge compares favorably with the estimated $27,000 annually needed to keep an inmate in a state prison.

High Point's crime-fighting plan, which has gained national attention, zeros in on crime-ridden neighborhoods and pressures miscreants to straighten up or face intense police scrutiny. It has worked well -- the city's violent crime rate has dropped 53 percent since 1997.

The latest weapon in the arsenal could help lower it even more while giving ex-offenders a helping hand back to a productive lifestyle.