Lockhart business program keeping women inmates from returning to prison

LOCKHART, Texas (KXAN) — An entrepreneurship program at the Lockhart Correctional Facility has decreased repeat prison stays to 0% for its graduates. Administrators want to continue that winning streak one businesswoman at a time.

"I didn't know who I was, I didn't know if I had dreams. It's given me the courage to believe in who I am and what I have to offer. That I have a future," said Jessica Farrow, an inmate in the Empowering Women out of Prison program.

Farrow joined the program earlier this year, coming up with ideas and goals for her future business TradeFlex, a second-chance recruitment agency that would pair former inmates with employers.

Farrow is one of more than 100 women currently in the EWOP program. Executive Director Pam Thomure said it began in 2020 after leaders noticed unequal learning opportunities for male and female inmates.

"The program is actually a spin off of the prison entrepreneurship program. We wanted it to be very gender specific, because at the time, there were 21 programs for men to every one for women," Thomure said.

Thomure said the program's mission is to inspire business ambition in incarcerated women, giving them renewed purpose and a reason to stay out of prison. A trend already seen among alumni.

"The state rate for recidivism, which means you're coming back to prison within a three year period, runs somewhere around 25%. The national rate sits around 46%. Our rate as of today, we're about to graduate class four, is 0%," Thomure said.

EWOP also assists its participants with transitional housing after serving time. Farrow said that's a service she's looking forward to having pending her release next year.

"It's a culture and it's a community, and it lasts outside of this place," Farrow said.

Thomure said EWOP relies on partnerships with entrepreneurs to serve as mentors, ambassadors and volunteers to the program. Those interested in getting involved are asked to reach out to the program by emailing info@ewoptx.org.