HENDERSON, Ky. — Henderson County jailer Anthony Willett is trying to build a “second chance” pipeline that would connect people in the detention center with jobs before they walk out.
The effort is still in the early stages. Willett took office on July 1. His staff has held one meeting with employers, scheduled another for later this month and begun calling businesses and temp agencies. Interviews inside the jail, a work-from-custody model, extra job-skills classes and possible housing at the old Community Service Center are part of the vision, but not in place yet.
Willett said the point is to reach more than the people already tied to mental-health or homelessness programs.
“What I wanted to do is add a second chance for everybody. Not just people with mental health issues. Not with people with just homelessness. I want to add something in there to where we’re helping them get a job when they get out,” he said…