Texas Border Business
By Amanda Sotelo
In a historical two-hour convening, South Texas College, Hidalgo County and Hidalgo County District Attorney Terry Palacios, made an epic announcement regarding the college’s Rebuilding Futures initiative, which provides a second chance at an education and career for individuals previously incarcerated.
The event “Rebuilding Futures: Advancing Second Chances through Policy, Partnership and Purpose,” brought together public sector leaders, higher education and community partners framing the initiative around advancing second chances through policy, partnership and purpose, in which Palacios announced that he supports the promotion of higher education certificates and degrees in lieu of traditional community service requirements in certain probation-related cases. The goal: to help eligible individuals complete educational milestones that can contribute to dismissal pathways and reduce long-term barriers tied to criminal records.
“We’ve had a pretrial diversion program for many years, and just last week we I had a room full of 90 people trying to get into the program. Most of the time this encompasses doing community service,” said Palacios. “So, now, we’re going to replace the community service with higher education opportunities and enroll them at STC. After that, for many first-time offenders, we can dismiss their cases. This is a two-year plan that is feasible, and this is going to help jail overcrowding, our communities, everyone.”
Olivia Gomez, STC director of External Affairs and one of the leads on this project, said this announcement creates a meaningful bridge between justice reform and workforce development helping build a more educated workforce with greater access to opportunity.
“Rebuilding Futures is more than a panel discussion. It is a movement rooted in hope, action and opportunity,” said Gomez. “This work is deeply personal to me because it honors the life of my late brother, Rene E. Tamez, who was given a second chance through South Texas College and was scheduled to graduate this year. One of the most powerful outcomes of this initiative is the partnership with the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office to promote higher education certificates and degrees as a pathway that can help eligible individuals move beyond probation requirements and toward dismissal opportunities. That is transformative because it not only changes lives, but also helps create a stronger, more educated workforce with fewer barriers to employment and advancement.”
Studies released by Prison Policy Initiative show that 709,000 people in the state are in the Texas criminal legal system, that is 751 per 100,000 people, opening further discussion on topics such as mental health impacts, STC wraparound services and bridging the gap from post-incarceration to employment during the event.
In addition to Palacios, other featured speakers included McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos, Hidalgo County District Clerk Laura Hinojosa, Texas Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa and Hidalgo County Commissioner Precinct 2 Eduardo “Eddie” Cantu.
STC President Ricardo J. Solis said STC provides access to meaningful skills that can lead to a promising career, and this initiative is expanding that access to those who may otherwise not have this opportunity.
“This initiative is opening doors that may otherwise be closed for these individuals,” he said. “Now, through Rebuilding Futures, not only are we providing a second chance, but we are expanding our access, creating stronger families, a capable workforce and a resilient community. As a result of this collaborative work, we are helping individuals rebuild their lives.”
Information source: STC
