GTL Partners with Prison Fellowship to Increase Second Chance Opportunities
Partnership will provide new resources for both incarcerated individuals and returning citizens
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FALLS CHURCH, Va. – Aug. 30, 2021 – GTL, a trusted partner that connects those affected by incarceration with the resources and support necessary to achieve success, today announced that it has partnered with Prison Fellowship, a leading voice in criminal justice reform and the organization behind the creation of Second Chance Month, which occurs in April every year.
GTL and Prison Fellowship will collaborate on developing high-quality, educational materials that will be distributed through GTL tablets. The new content will help provide a more productive experience for those incarcerated and assist with a successful transition home after release. Close to 500,000 incarcerated individuals in the United States have access to tablets, which help to boost morale, fuel connection, and reduce recidivism.
“We are thrilled to partner with Prison Fellowship and collaborate on initiatives that will positively affect incarcerated individuals and returning citizens,” said Jessica Artz, GTL executive vice president, human resources and reentry. “Ninety-five percent of incarcerated individuals will be released back into their communities, and we are aware that they may face many barriers to successful reentry. This partnership highlights our commitment to providing transformational content, which will assist incarcerated individuals in making the most of their second chance.”
“For over four decades, Prison Fellowship has operated from the convictions that all people are inherently valuable, and that no life is beyond change,” said James Ackerman, president and CEO of Prison Fellowship. “We believe character is not static. It can be developed and changed. We also believe people are more than a compilation of their mistakes. This new partnership with GTL will help us further enhance our mission of helping incarcerated men and women realize they can lead restored lives—leaving behind the destructive behaviors and replacing them with a positive value system.”
“With positive influences, interactions, and setting high expectations, incarcerated men and women can become good citizens and communities can become safer,” said Dan Kingery, executive vice president of field programs for Prison Fellowship. We believe those who were part of the problem can become a dynamic agent of the solution—even while in prison. We believe incarcerated men and women can become good citizens and begin living out their success stories before they exit the prison gates, and the vast majority of prisoners do reenter society.”
In addition to creating and providing content, GTL and Prison Fellowship will collaborate on second chance hiring initiatives that will offer more job opportunities for returning citizens through a network of community partners. Approximately one in three American adults has a criminal record, and businesses experience approximately 1.7 million lost workers each year because people with a criminal record are unable to fully reenter the workforce.
“It is important for companies to consider all qualified applicants,” concluded Artz. “By working together, GTL and Prison Fellowship can make a difference and break down the barriers faced by returning citizens.”
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About GTL
For over 30 years, GTL has worked side-by-side with correctional facilities and government agencies to provide imperative technology solutions to over 1.2 million incarcerated individuals across the globe. These solutions facilitate meaningful connections, provide educational opportunities, enable successful reentry, and strengthen operational efficiency. GTL is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with an employee presence throughout North America and was recognized as a 2021 Top Workplace USA by Energage. To learn more about GTL, please visit www.gtl.net, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
About Prison Fellowship
Prison Fellowship is the nation’s largest outreach to prisoners, former prisoners, and their families, and a leading voice for criminal justice reform. With more than 40 years of experience helping restore men and women behind bars, Prison Fellowship advocates for federal and state criminal justice reforms that transform those responsible for crime, validate victims, and encourage communities to play a role in creating a safe, redemptive, and just society.
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