Raleigh, N.C. – A North Carolina pilot program is offering a fresh start for formerly incarcerated individuals by helping them land transportation-related jobs and obtain state identification—key tools for rebuilding their lives after prison.
Launched in 2024 under Executive Order 303, the N.C. Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) Transitional Work Pilot Program is showing early success in addressing long-standing barriers to reentry. The program provides job training, employment opportunities, and essential documentation for those reentering society after incarceration.
“Removing barriers, creating job opportunities, and improving reentry services so participants can be successful and productive after they leave prison helps reduce crime and breaks the cycle of relapse,” said Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins.
The program, initiated by former Gov. Roy Cooper and continued under Gov. Josh Stein, has broadened work release options and expanded the state’s efforts to support reintegration into the workforce and society.
A New Pathway to Employment
One major component of the initiative is NCDOT’s On the Job Training program, which recently held its first Transportation Work Training Academy in Raleigh. The academy trained five individuals in highway construction tasks, including operating heavy equipment and directing traffic.
With guidance from NCDOT employees and contractors, participants underwent two weeks of classroom and hands-on instruction. On May 2, each graduate of the program received on-site job offers and will soon begin work at construction sites in the Raleigh area.
“These participants are ready to contribute to our state’s workforce,” said Rhonda Royster, NCDOT’s Workforce Development Manager. “This is about offering second chances and strengthening our communities.”
Identification: A Key to Reintegration
The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is also playing a vital role by ramping up efforts to issue state identification cards to incarcerated individuals prior to release. These IDs are critical for accessing healthcare, housing, employment, and support services. The DMV is currently issuing an average of 137 IDs per month to eligible individuals.
“Providing state identification cards and opportunities for work release is vital to successful reintegration and makes our community safer,” said Leslie Cooley Dismukes, Secretary of the N.C. Department of Adult Correction. “We appreciate the partnership we have with the Department of Transportation.”
Local Partnerships Driving Results
In Charlotte, the Center for Employment Opportunities has been working with NCDOT under a $274,000 contract to employ formerly incarcerated individuals in roadside maintenance roles. The partnership, launched last fall, has helped clean up roadways and provided job experience for participants.
“These crews are making a difference—not just on our roads, but in people’s lives,” said Felix Obregon, NCDOT Maintenance Engineer for the Charlotte area. “It’s an opportunity for meaningful work while also allowing us to assess future employment candidates.”
The Center provides necessary gear, transportation to job sites, and supervision to ensure the program runs safely and effectively.
A Model for the State
The program aligns with broader efforts across state agencies, including the N.C. Departments of Natural and Cultural Resources, Environmental Quality, and Public Safety, all of which are boosting workforce development initiatives under Executive Order 303.
“This program provides a meaningful pathway to both short-term and long-term employment for people who may be losing hope due to their past,” said Ebony Pittman, NCDOT’s Deputy Secretary for Business Administration. “Ultimately, formerly incarcerated people deserve a second chance.”
George Pettigrew, Deputy Secretary of the N.C. Department of Adult Correction, echoed the sentiment: “We appreciate the close collaboration we have with NCDOT and look forward to working with them on more initiatives in the future that support the reentry process.”
