FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Donald Fields, II., was in and out of the justice system for nearly thirty years.
A native of Southern California, Fields moved to Fort Wayne in 2007. But, his move couldn't keep him out of trouble. In 2008, Fields was arrested, and in 2009, he pled guilty to a felony charge.
However, this time was different. Fields now had a teenage son, who Fields noticed was following in his father's negative footsteps.
"Your kids don't do what you say, they do what you do, and I have a 17-year-old son, and I saw him patterning himself after some things I used to be a part of in the past, and that kind of broke my heart," Fields said.
So, he signed up for a job readiness program through Blue Jacket, a re-entry organization on Fort Wayne's southeast side.
"One of the biggest barriers would be yourself, second is finding people who are willing to give ex-offenders a second chance... I appreciated learning a way to explain myself, so I can get past that mark that line on an application that states have you been convicted of a felony," Fields said.
Blue Jacket is an intense zero-tolerance, four week re-entry program that focuses mainly on employment. It partners with 18 other organizations across the city that help with other aspects of re-entry such as educational development. And, clients who follow the rules are rewarded.
"Having a professional look, showing them that you know you are an ex-offender and what you did was in your past, and you can’t change it, but all you can do is look towards the future," said Darick Van, who's in his second week of the four week program.
Clients going through the Career Academy take classes highlighting resume building, interview skills, and professional dress. They hold a trial job with the center’s community garden, and they have access to a free clothes bank where they can build their professional wardrobe.
"That trust is earned, and when success is also earned, people value how hard they had to work for that first opportunity at employment," said Tony Hudson, the executive director of Blue Jacket. "So, we really focus a great deal on earning things rather than expecting to be given that job for free."
The program has seen many success stories, including Larry Thomas, Jr., who now works for the Downtown Improvement District.
"This gives me the opportunity to be in a position to not only move forward in my life as far as being a positive role model to society, instead of being a problem, I’m helping it now," Thomas said.
The Indiana recidivism rate is well below the national average. 60 percent of Blue Jacket graduates are employed within 90 days, and the program graduates around 300 students a year.