“The pandemic, which devastated inmates in prisons and jails, made employment even tougher as thousands were released at the very moment that entry-level jobs evaporated in industries like service and construction. A novel initiative known as the Returning Citizen Stimulus began offering money to people just released from prison, and advocates say it is the most straightforward and revolutionary solution.
The cash transfers — an average of $2,750 over three months — have been contingent on achieving certain goals on the way to employment. The program is the brainchild of the Center for Employment Opportunities, a New York-based nonprofit group that provides paid transitional employment, job counseling and related services for people around the country who have just been released from prison.”