By Lindsey Hall |

Posted: Wed 6:49 PM, May 01, 2019  |

Updated: Wed 7:10 PM, May 01, 2019

LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Miss. (WTOK) – East Mississippi Correctional Facility hosted its 1st Annual Pre-Release Offender Job Fair Wednesday.

Offenders who have approximately three to six months before being released took part in the event. It’s part of the prison’s effort to help offenders possibly find jobs even before they’re released.

“MTC is really big on programs. They offer a lot of pre-release programs; they are comprehensive programs,” said Ricky Earls, who attended the job fair. “They’re doing everything they can to help us when we get out, not just when we’re here.”

“They really take their time and make sure that we are fit and equipped to go out and talk to people right and to get something going for ourselves to be successful,” said attendee Eric Hunter. “The goal is, like I tell them, it’s do what you have to do in here because we want to see you succeed out there.”

“So the goal is prepare them for life skills, workforce skills, so they can go back home again and be productive citizens,” said EMCF pre-release coordinator, Carolyn Powe.

Several local employers and colleges were vendors at the job fair.