DeWine visits Dayton Correctional Institutions to announce additional re-entry support for inmates

DAYTON — Gov. Mike DeWine attended an inmate re-entry fair at the Dayton Correctional Institution Tuesday to announce a new job training program designed to push forward the Digital Access Ohio plan.

The Dayton Correctional Institution holds a re-entry fair every year for their soon-to-be-released inmates to make contacts for jobs and housing.

This year’s fair was much different, starting with the guest of honor being DeWine.

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“What we want is for all Ohioans to live up to their God-given abilities, you can’t do that very well behind bars,” DeWine said.

DeWine says the state can help the 18,000 Ohioans that leave prison each year to live up to their abilities, and it’s important for them, and taxpayers.

“We want them to get a good job, to have opportunities, to live a good life, what we don’t want is for them to come back to prison,” DeWine said.

DeWine said for that reason, and the fact that Ohio employers need workers, he and the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections are unveiling job training for inmates close to release.

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The first program is the telecommunications tower technician.

Eight inmates from the Richland Correctional Institution are the first class, determined to succeed.

“I definitely am, and I’m not afraid of heights,” said Demarcus Mahone.

Mahome should be released in less than a year.

He is starting his 250 hours of training Tuesday after Memorial Day.

He will then be ready to be hired to help install broadband and high-speed internet.

Partners like AT&T, and their contractors are working with the state to job-place those that complete training.

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