Jason Sole is a former drug dealer, member of a notorious street gang, and a three-time convicted felon. He always knew he wanted to do something different and today he is St. Paul’s first Community-First Public Safety Initiatives Director and a professor of criminal justice at Hamline University. Jason shares his experience, how he changed his life and the challenges other face when they are trying to re-enter the workforce after paying their debt to society. He also discusses why the rate of recidivism is so high and what businesses can do to help change it. Learn how businesses can think differently about hiring people who have been in jail.

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A white person with felony convictions has a better chance of getting a job than a black person without felony convictions.

Business can play to someone’s potential rather than looking at their risk.