Inmates at Perryville prison are learning a trade while serving time
Mar 15, 2018, 4:35 AM
(Flickr/Martin Cathrae)
PHOENIX — Female inmates serving their sentences at the Perryville prison complex west of Phoenix are learning a trade that can help them once they are released.
Phoenix-based Televerde, a global sales and marketing solutions provider for technology companies, paid the state for the incarcerated women’s work at Perryville and a second women’s prison in Indiana.
A large call center has been established inside Perryville and has been in operation for several years. Calling in, you likely would have no idea you’re talking with an inmate.
The women inmates at Perryville learn a trade that can lead to a career, according to Televerde spokeswoman Michele Ciracco.
“The recidivism rate the ladies that work for Televerde is only 6 percent,” Ciracco said. “We attribute that to the fact that we provide jobs, training, education.”
After that, inmates have a chance to actually get a job once they are released from prison.
“Then they have an opportunity to come work for us,” Ciracco said.
Ciracco adds, there are also basic requirements from the Arizona Department of Corrections and from Televerde before they go live.
“They need to have either a high school diploma or a GED. They have to be able to take a typing test and type at least 25 words per minute,” Ciracco said.
Even if they don’t get a job with Televerde, the company said the women working the telemarketing jobs inside the Perryville prison often get jobs with other companies as well.