DA Anderson: I am happy to do that. That is why the drug program in Harris County is so successful. They are willing to hire felons because they know they are not violent.
When people get out of jail, they go right back to committing crime. we are looking at re entry courts to get them job skills.
Chief McClelland: Crime is a social problem. We have to have participation from government, religious, community to fix it. Texas prison is the second largest in the US. The average education of those in prison is the 8th grade. 65,000 are released from prison every year and they have no additional skills.
The city of Houston is going to participate in re entry. Just because you are a convicted felon would not necessarily keep you from being hired if you have the skill set.
