AUSTIN, Texas — U.S. Sen. John Cornyn is working on legislation to help organizations that provide career development to people who used to be incarcerated.
He was at the Austin Community College Highland campus for a roundtable discussion on Monday. The college's Make It Center allows people leaving the criminal justice system to explore possible career pathways, get training and test their skills for job placement.
Cornyn applauded the community college's work.
"I just can't help but be inspired, not only by the people who are making this possible, but again, the people who've chosen a new path in life and work and demonstrate it to others who may be skeptics that it is possible because they've done it," Cornyn said.
Cornyn said he's hoping to craft new legislation to strengthen a pilot program that gives funding to programs like the Make It Center.
More than 650,000 men and women nationwide, including 78,000 inmates in Texas, are released from prison each year. Research shows inmates who participate in correctional education programs are 43% less likely to return to prison than those who do not, Cornyn’s office said.