Inmate workers from Arizona Correctional Industries are putting in hours with Erickson Construction, with their primary jobs in the fabrication and assembly of wooden trusses, wall panels, doors and trim for the Arizona housing market.
The partnership between the Phoenix West Complex, run by GEO Group, began in February 2016 and currently has 20 inmates.
The program is seen as a way to address the lack of qualified workers in the trades since the Great Recession, said Larry Butts, general manager of Erickson Framing AZ.
“When we learned about the labor program with ACI, we immediately jumped at the chance to train inmate crews who we could count on showing up every day.” he said.
Many of the inmates said they were glad to have an opportunity to be away from the prison confines and to be able to work, earn money and acquire new skills. Erickson has hired a couple workers from the program since their release from prison.
“This has been a great program for us and we intend to keep up this partnership for the foreseeable future.” Butts said.
