Mississippi nonprofit says job training helps inmates find work, reduce recidivism

MAGCOR, a Mississippi nonprofit that trains incarcerated people in in-demand job skills, said its programs have helped someone in each of the state’s 82 counties and have led to paid employment for former participants, according to the organization’s FY 2025 annual report.

The group operates workshops statewide that teach food service, metal manufacturing, warehouse operations, apparel and textiles, printing and recycling. The training is paired with a reentry curriculum that includes cognitive behavioral therapy, anger management and drug and alcohol prevention, the report said.

Participants are studying for industry credentials such as the ServSafe certificate, created by the National Restaurant Association to certify knowledge of food safety practices, the report said. In the report, a 61-year-old participant identified as Nikkie said the program restored her confidence and will help her become a “productive member of society.” A 31-year-old participant identified as Elizabeth, who was sentenced for a DUI death, said the certificate will give her a “foot up” against other applicants.

Martha Claire Bullen, MAGCOR’s chief reentry officer, said the program aims to make accountability and discipline routine and to show participants that their futures can differ from their pasts. State Sen. Lydia Chassaniol, R-Miss., vice chair of the Senate Corrections Committee, told MAGCOR officials that workplace readiness is vital for helping former inmates become productive citizens, the report said.

A joint study by MAGCOR and the Mississippi Business Alliance found larger companies are more likely to hire formerly incarcerated people, though employers of all sizes told researchers they believe in second chances, the report said. Bullen told skeptical employers to judge hires by job performance, saying MAGCOR participants tend to have lower turnover. The report also cited Wade, a former participant and current City of Pearl employee who was sentenced for a DUI wreck, saying MAGCOR helped him secure full-time work and pursue career goals.

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