Missouri Vocational Enterprises

Improving Lives For Safer CommunitiesMissouri Vocational Enterprises (MVE)

MVE’s History

Missouri Vocational Enterprises (MVE) is a program of the Division of Offender Rehabilitative Services within the Missouri Department of Corrections. Established by State Statute (RSMo 217.550) to create meaningful job training for incarcerated offenders. MVE utilizes offender labor, along with supervisors and administrative staff, to provide quality products and services to state agencies and other not-for-profit entities.

MVE is a unique business that operates on a working capital revolving fund and does not receive any tax dollars from the general revenue.

MVE is responsible for 22 different industries and services located in 12 correctional institutions throughout the state of Missouri. Since its beginning over 50 years ago, the program has been revised and expanded. MVE takes great pride in producing a wide variety of quality products and services. But the key component at MVE is a successful justice involved individual that returns to society as an asset rather than a burden.

Mission Statement

MVE is committed to developing personal responsibility in justice involved individuals through the development of diverse training programs that enhance their employability and the opportunity for success while incarcerated and upon release.

(Success while incarcerated is defined by commitment and good behavior which results in an increased safety within institutions.)

MVE Operations Facts

In FY19, MVE employed 2,416 justice involved individuals.

MVE offers approximately 1,850 standard products that are sold to state agencies, not-for-profits, cities and counties.

MVE operates at no cost to taxpayers.

Funds generated from the sales of MVE products and services are used to pay for the programs operating expenses.

MVE Justice Involved Individuals Facts

MVE programs teach justice involved individuals good work ethics and transferable job skills, preparing them for a successful transition to society.

In addition, justice involved individuals learn how to communicate properly and build good working relationships with staff as required in society.

The majority of justice involved individuals employed by MVE have a high school diploma or are working towards an HSE.

MVE strives to build self-worth in justice involved individuals and reduce idleness within the prisons; which results in less violence within the institutions.

MVE Apprenticeship Program

MVE has partnered with the U.S Department of Labor and has registered 50 job titles that coincide with the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Programs.

The process for hiring justice involved individuals in the factories often simulates the process in society. Many are evaluated based on their prior experience, prison behavior, personal demeanor, etc.

Hours employed are tracked monthly and recorded by the factory as well as central office.

Completed apprenticeships are reported to the Department of Labor as a request for certificates.

There are currently 947 active justice involved individuals working in an apprenticeship program.

Currently, 1,661 justice involved individuals have successfully completed apprenticeship programs.

MVE Apprenticeship Program (Cont.) Who gets certificates?

Original certificates are sent to the Records section.

Copies are sent to the Classification and Education sections of the institution.

Records remain in the D.O.L. system indefinitely with MVE.

Certificates are designed to serve as credibility that justice involved individuals can utilize in an interview or present to an employer upon release.

MVE has many industry programs that perform work skills associated with Career and Technical Education course descriptions.

MVE has many offenders that already have enough experience that would accommodate the course lengths for the following programs: Basic Welding

Building Trades

Manufacturing Technology

Modern Woodworking

MVE Central OfficeWork Release Programs

Currently the MVE Central Office complex has work release programs for maintenance, warehouse processes, custodial duties and clerical functions.

Work release offenders are non-violent offenders that are close to being released and are generally seeking training to assist them with the anxiety of transferring into society.

These offenders deal with the public daily and develop skills that will help them transition upon release. This experience also helps them recognize what their strengths are as well as their weaknesses.

MVE Central Office staff work side by side with approximately 30 justice involved individuals performing a wide variety of tasks.

MVE Training and Certificates

It is very important that justice involved individuals leave with as many tools as possible to obtain employment upon release as some employers are reluctant to hire an ex-offender.

MVE offers basic training and certificates at all factories and work release locations that encourages learning employability skills.

Videos and computer programs are utilized for teaching computer skills, learning to type, and building resumes.

Each class takes an average of 12-20 hours to complete and a certificate is issued after successful completion of each class.

MVE issues training certificates for:

Computer Literacy training.

Typing Skills.

Workplace Essential Skills.

MVE offers On-The-Job training certificates for every 2,000 hours worked.

MVE Team Dedicated to Making It Happen

MVE’s team members take pride in the work they do every day.

The key component in our organization is justice involved individuals are our primary purpose, not just producing products.

The success of MVE’s program over the years is due to the dedication and drive of the MVE Team.

Our goal now and in the future is to advance partnerships within the Department and with external stakeholders in order to continuously increase the capabilities and insure the continued success of MVE.

Chillicothe Correctional Center Clothing Factory

One of two women’s prisons in Missouri Have their own offender sewing

machine mechanic Manufactures: boxers, ladies briefs,

towels, sheets, air filters, plastic bags

Crossroads Correctional Center Consumables Factory

A parent roll of tissue paper is as wide and tall as an office door

Manufactures: 1 and 2 ply toilet paper

Eastern, Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center Chemical Factory

Manufactures: Commercial cleaning products for laundry and kitchen, personal care items, environmentally friendly products, and cardboard boxes

Justice involved individuals produce 125,000 gallons of liquid products 507,000 pounds of powered cleaners 185,000 pounds of bar soap 462,000 boxes using 4.2 million square

feet of recycled cardboard

Farmington Correctional Center Clothing and Mattress Factory

Use industrial sewing machines for clothing production

Mattresses are produced for offender population and separate mattresses are produced for dorm furniture

Manufactures: Offender and Correctional Officer coats, socks, BDU pants, mattresses, pillows, and mop heads

Farmington Correctional Center Laundry

Commercial healthcare laundry services FCC Laundry is accredited by the Healthcare Laundry

Accreditation Council (HLAC) Processes over 11 million pounds of linen annually

Jefferson City Correctional CenterClothing Factory

Have their own offender sewing machine mechanics Has a 20 head embroidery machine Cuts material for other MVE clothing factories Manufactures: Correctional Officer uniforms and

utility belts, male offender clothing, hats, safety worker outerwear, polo shirts, screen printing, and embroidery

Jefferson City Correctional CenterFurniture Factory

Have offender AutoCAD drafters Learn the skill set to create and

read blue prints Manufacture: wood office

furniture, wood cabinets, and conference tables

Jefferson City Correctional CenterGraphic Arts

Produces approximately 2 million inspection stickers annually

Produces approximately 4 million validation tabs annually

Manufactures: decals, validation tabs, inspection stickers, specialty plates, and handicap plaquards

Jefferson City Correctional CenterLicense Plates

An entire re-issuance of license plates consists of manufacturing approximately 12.5 million plates

Manufactures: License plates, including passenger, motorcycle, and specialty

Jefferson City Correctional CenterSign Shop

Offenders use Corel Draw, Adobe, Illustrator, and Photoshop to design and create products

Manufactures: Signs including but not limited to regulatory, warning, construction, guide, school, barricade, recycling, and ADA

Jefferson City Correctional CenterCartridge Recycling

Remanufactures and test each cartridge before it is shipped

Manufactures: Remanufactured printing cartridges

Jefferson City Correctional CenterEngraving

Skilled offenders produce hand crafted personal items Learn to use computer controlled laser engravers Manufactures: nameplates, name badges, plaques, awards, picture frames,

paintings, leather craft, and stained glass

Northeast Correctional CenterOffice Systems

Offenders program and operate a 5’ X 10’ CNC router

Refurbishes office panels for Office of Administration

Manufactures: Modular office systems

Moberly Correctional CenterMetal Plant Have offender AutoCAD drafters

Learn the skill set to create and read blue prints Has a powder coat line Manufactures: File cabinets, metal shelving, lockers,

security benches, grills, picnic tables, benches, trash receptacles, and institutional beds

Moberly Correctional CenterPrint Shop

Is a full service print shop Offenders operate

professional full color presses, copy machines, and bindery equipment

Manufactures: printing services including but not limited to letterhead, forms, brochures, envelopes, business cards, training manuals, and catalogs

Moberly Correctional CenterLaundry

Commercial healthcare laundry services MCC Laundry is accredited by the

Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC)

Potosi Correctional Center Tube Bending

Have offender AutoCAD drafters Learn the skill set to create and read blue prints Have high pressure tube benders, a PlasmaCam cutting machine, welders, and presses Manufactures: farm panels and feeders, camping equipment, outdoor metal furniture,

and bike racks

South Central Correctional Center Furniture Restoration

Offenders learn carpentry skills using table saws, routers, planers, lathes, sanders, and band saws

Offenders learn basic upholstery skills up to diamond tufted sofas

Manufactures: Restores furniture, adjustable height tables, nesting tables, and seating (executive, guest, lounge)

Southeast Correctional Center Furniture Factory

Have offender AutoCAD drafters

Learn the skill set to create and read blue prints

Offenders program, operate, and maintain a CNC router and laser engraver

Can produce custom built furniture from customer designs, (within reason)

Manufactures: dorm furniture, state seals, cabinets for Habitat for Humanity, and wood office furniture

Tipton Correctional CenterComponent Chair and Shoe Factories

Have produced office seating for approximately 25+ years

Nearly all upholstery material is made from recycled content

Flag production began in 2010

Manufactures: Office chairs, flags, reupholstering, and offender shoes

Women’s Eastern Reception and Diagnostic Correctional Center Clothing Factory

One of two women’s prisons in Missouri Offenders are trained to identify types

of fabrics and sewing techniques Have their own offender sewing

machine mechanic

Manufactures: Women’s offender clothing, t-shirts, sweatshirts and pants, scrubs, pajamas, maintenance uniforms, and towels

Who benefits from Correctional Industries?

Taxpayers – Missouri citizens see reduced incarceration costs and safer neighborhoods.

Justice Involved Individuals – Gain the experience, expertise, employability skills, and self-confidence that will help them find meaningful work after release. Statistics show that offenders working in Correctional Industries are less likely to return to prison than the average offender.

Missouri Businesses – MVE purchases nearly $9 million in raw materials and services every year from Missouri-based companies.

Department of Corrections – MVE manufactures many products for the Department. In addition, MVE employs a substantial amount of offenders within a disciplined environment which has proven to have a positive influence on offender behavior.

ConclusionMVE Changes Lives

Whether a justice involved individual fully absorbs the change or not, the Missouri Vocational Enterprises program changes their life.

The offender has learned new skills or improved existing skills they can use in gaining employment as they re-enter society.

Many offenders have never held a job or have the skills you and I might take for granted. MVE helps fill those missing gaps.

They are given the opportunity to earn money that they didn’t have before they arrived. With that comes the responsibility to use it wisely.

Many offenders learn leadership skills and how to mentor other justice involved individuals.

Participants gain confidence and responsibility to interact professionally with individuals inside and outside of the institution.

With many offender success stories, MVE has proven to be a life changing program with lasting effects throughout our communities.