Finding Work as an Ex-Felon Is Daunting Obstacle
Ralph Waccary turned around his life while in prison and has worked full time since his release in 2005. [Photo: Jeffrey Camp] |
Hospital executives wanted Waccary for the job. But when his past came to light, they called him and told him they were sorry; they just couldn’t hire someone with his record. The response is common among employers, says Vicki Lopez Lukis, also an ex-convict, who serves as vice chairwoman of the DOC’s Re-Entry Advisory Council. She says employment remains one of the top barriers to successful re-entry. Waccary “truly deserves a second chance,” she says. “He knew that he would have to work harder to prove himself ... and he took on this challenge with great dedication.”
After some powerful people intervened, including DeFoor, Lukis and Bob Spivey, a Florida State University administrator who volunteers at the prison, and after a second interview in which they asked Waccary tough questions about his past and his rehabilitation, hospital administrators agreed that he deserved a chance. “I can’t imagine where I would have been if I didn’t have this support system of people who advocated for me,” says Waccary. “Most ex-cons don’t have anything close.”
Dale Neely, chief operating officer at Capital Regional, says the hospital is “proud to be part of the faith program.”
“While each case needs to be carefully evaluated,” Neely says, “we were satisfied that Mr. Waccary’s situation warranted a second chance and an opportunity to be part of our organization.”