Michael Hooks Jr, fresh out of prison has been hired by Shelby County Corrections Center. Just weeks after his release from a month long prison sentence, he’s working for mayor AC Wharton’s reentry program for ex-cons. Hooks Jr. plead guilty to taking money from Shelby County Government Contracts for work he didn’t do
Program director Stanley Lipford admits the job was not posted or advertised but says Hooks received no favors. He was among 10 others hired through a temporary program aimed at recruiting incarcerated men to participate in fatherhood responsibility classes.
“He had submitted a resume as many people do who are interested in employment. He’s no different than anyone else. We received tons and tons of resumes and we chose his resume from a pool of resumes that we have,” said Lipford.
Lipford says neither the former city school board member’s political connections nor his well known family name had anything to do with him getting the job.
Lipford said, “Upon going through the resumes, we saw what his qualifications were. His education. His experience. We thought he would be beneficial for our program.”
Hooks is hired on a part-time temporary basis. He is paid $16.41 an hour to work 20 to 25 hours a week. He is among 10 others hired for one of these temporary jobs but Hooks is the only one who is an ex-con. Lipford says there are at least one or two other felons working in his program but they are full time employees.
Hooks job is over September 30th. Mayor AC Wharton’s office says there are no plans to bring Hooks on as a full time employee.
What do you think? Should the county hire someone who stole from it in the first place?
For one thing, ALL former convicts need some type of help finding employment. The fact of the matter is, about 94% of all crime is committed by only 6% of all the crimimals in this country. The rest of the people made a mistake, so something does need to be done to re-integrate them back into society. Finding employment can help them get back on thier feet. Having said that, a job with the county—especially a high paying job—may not be such a good idea for Hooks. I personally hope he succeeds, but what about the rest of the non-politically connected ex-cons?
What do I think?
Ha … just more corruption and favoritism by the local “in charges”. Why did anyone believe Wharton would be any different than mayor bill??? Didn’t he hire Roscoe Tanner to a do nothing job … just before ole Roscoe was indicted. The list goes on.
Hmmm, let’s see … the 10 jobs were not posted or advertised. Interesting. Now, the questions are: How many resumes were received prior to the 10 jobs being filled, eh?? Why weren’t the jobs posted. WHO got the other 9?
This is almost as bad as Felony McFaddgen who mayor bill put back on the city payroll upon her release from Federal prison for laundering drug money while she was an MPD officer … and, promptly increased her pay for a do nothing job to ~$100K.
The entire local government is rife with corruption, cronyism & favoritism. Oh, and there is absolutely no shortage of incompetents, either.
“What do I think?”
If you could “think” maybe, just maybe, someone would be impressed. Since you can do no such thing, sounds like to me you’re jealous. Unless you know the job description of Mr. Hooks or the other lady, all you’re doing is running your mouth. Put a sock in it! “Watchdogs” like yourself are simply disgruntled citizens with an ax to grind with the world. You need some prayer—real prayer—and take a couple of aspirin, then call someone who cares in the morning. You’ll feel better afterwards.
Just how does someone get notice of an non-posted job opening; process of osmosis? I would appreciate a follow up story on how the information for a non-posted open position is communicated to potential candidates. Is there a secret bidding process like the one to get a city or county contract?
Well I for one “can” think, and I think that with un-employment so rife in the city of Memphis county of Shelby, that there are bound to be more qualified applicants out there who are no doubt far more worthy of such a position. I know of one person right now, who is very computer literate, has a Master’s degree in business admin, worked very hard for over 30 years for one company only to be laid off when the company sold itself to an out of state buyer. Now, this person is a supporter of 4 and has not been able to find a decent job. Oh but thats ok, they just hire the insiders and those who have “Friends” in high places. I dont care what Hooks did, as I am sure it did not directly effect me or mine, but to be placed in a position of trust is to much. I know lets wait until John Ford gets out of prison and elect him as the next Mayor of Memphis. I am sure it won’t be long before we see King Ford doing the same thing as the current mayor.
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George: Michael Hooks Jr. said he was guilty of taking money from Shelby County for contract work he never performed. This means that if you have any dealings in Shelby County or pay any txes here, it directly affects you.
There are serious questions regarding this fiasco needing answers.
• Why no posting of the jobs?
• How, and by who, were the openings communicated to who??
• How many resumes were received?
Looks to me as these are giveaway “no show” jobs for political cronies.
George, put the Channel 3 “Watchdog with rubber teeth” on this.
BTW, this is a Federal funded program. I hope the Feds get involved.
Hooks is just another career criminal. I do not see how he could get a job from the same employeer he stole from. It makes no sense.
Mr. Hooks deserves a second chance. However, did he deserve this particular job more than other qualified persons, who did not even have an opportunity to apply. We will never know because there was not an open and fair employment process. The
taxpayers of Shelby County deserve better than this.
Could that job be one that wharton made for Hooks? I think so.. Hooks getting this job at $16.00 an hour is outrageous. He should be made trade spaces with a trash collector who most likely makes less than that. Memphis and shelby co. could care less about the poor blacks and whites, they just keep giving to the political thieves. Wonder what job wharton or herenton will have for daddy hooks when he gets out of prison.. Dosen’t hurt to think ahead.
Letters to the Editor
Monday, July 28, 2008
Sometimes it’s who you know
The merit of hiring former prisoners to work on fatherhood-healthy marriage programs serving an incarcerated population is supported by best-practice literature. It is a policy I strongly advocated when I was manager of Project REACHH, the original name of the federally funded program at the Shelby County Division of Corrections cited as recently hiring ex-prisoner Michael Hooks Jr. (July 23 article).
However, this is not why Hooks was hired. Like virtually everyone else working on the program at this point, he was hired because he has connections in high places. Look at most of the staff working on Project REACHH today and you will find a blood, friendship or fraternity relationship to Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton; Walter Crews, deputy director of the county’s Division of Corrections, or Division of Corrections director Andrew Taber.
As the Corrections Division’s grant-funded program manager in 2006, I designed Project REACHH and wrote the proposals that got it funded. I had in mind the needs of Memphis area families and children affected by crime, poverty and incarceration and the interests of the entire community at heart.
However, my intentions were quickly short-circuited into a five-month paid suspension when I objected to the patronage and misrepresentations that followed the funding. I took a job offer in another city early this year and now direct a similar program in five medium- and maximum-security prisons, soon to expand to four more prisons.
Programs for prisoners, their families and their children are sorely needed and can work. They should and could be staffed by former prisoners who have truly transformed their lives and have the qualifications and ability to motivate those still struggling to find the right path.
Unfortunately, in Memphis, misuse of funds, failure to deliver services and other highly inappropriate behavior have taken place under the guise of providing programming.
I am sorry I had any part in this misuse of taxpayer dollars and in the false face that is being placed on a needed and cutting-edge program. As he was in the Tennessee Waltz investigation, though, Hooks is again just the tip of the iceberg.
Randi Blumenthal Guigui
Mount Kisco, N.Y.
fox in the hen house
I sincerely hpoe this one gets posted.
Letter to the editor:
It is very apparent to most people that frequent this site that some people can do nothing more than complain and blame blacks for everything. Michael Hooks, Jr. committed a crime, and paid his debt to the citizens of Memphis. It is from them he stole, and to them and them alone he has (or had) to answer. Other people from outside the city really have no interest in his case—except to complain, criticize blacks and further debase this city—so why the comments made by them are posted but those of Memphis citizens are not is rather puzzling. Yes, he committed a crime. However, he needed a job, and yes, this job given to him by Shelby County government would raise some eyebrows. In some cases, the concern of some is understandable. However, his many detractors have failed to recognize that similar mayors in other areas have done the same thing with more dubious characters. Also, lest we forget the cautionary tale of Ricky Peete, the man who betrayed the trust of his constituents, paid for that crime, only to plead guilty to a second offense. Michael Hooks, Jr is not Ricky Peete. He is not in a position where he handles any money or has anything to do with the granting of contracts. All of the venom directed towards him and the mayor of this city and county is unnecessary, not to mention borders on racism. Futher, if I am not mistaken, this job is TEMPORARY. He will not be on the county’s payroll for very long. Finally, government makes all types of decisions, some of which many people find distasteful. That this city and county government has been scrutinized by so many people—many of whom do not reside within its borders—and are not familiar or even aware of its policies is blatantly unfair. Why do people from Mississippi and Arkansas have so much to say about Memphis? Is there nothing of merit happening in these states that can occupy their time? The critics of this city are a dime a dozen.
Yep! That about sums up Memphis. Ha ha ha ha ha
Only in Memphis – only here could a public official steal from the government, go to jail, then go back to work for the government….
Yes. Only in Memphis. Only in Memphis do we have people who live in the suburbs—some of which are not even in the state of TN—still trying to exude some form of control or rule over the citizens of this locale. Only in Memphis do we have people whining about one Black person who was formerly a public official—who paid his debt to society—getting a second chance, but having no problem with a “president” who has villified this nation in the eyes of the world, damaged its credibility, and lied about Iraq in order to get a war started. Only in Memphis does the pathetic Haley Barbour get a free ride from you people, but Herenton is lambasted, blamed for everything, criticized and ridiculed mercilessly by a bunch of so-called “Christians” (even though we know Catholics are not really Christians.) Only in Memphis can a great idea like “The Rant” be turned into a whining board for racist malcontents. Only in Memphis…
Why do people from Mississippi and Arkansas have so much to say about Memphis? Is there nothing of merit happening in these states that can occupy their time? The critics of this city are a dime a dozen.
I am one who lives in Tennessee, but not in Memphis. I am in Memphis often than not due to doctors appointments. I have family that live in Memphis. I have fond memories of being in Memphis for as long back as I can remember, Goldsmiths, the Zoo, the Midi-South Fair, the River…
What happens in Memphis is important to me; it affects me. The critics being a dime a dozen may have something of worth to say and it all begins with ww. Since he has become mayor, this city has become mire, sludge, and slime…from a grand lady to a stinking whore. The only good things going are its medical community and the river. So tj, if you are a Memphian, get on the ball and get something positive going in your neighborhood.
I need a job also. I just got out of prison on the 22nd of July and have yet to be able to find work. If I am honest with folks about my past, they look at me like I am insane. If I lie, then the possibility of a background check would result in the loss of the job. My skill set is not typical. I have a college degree, a commercial pilots license, years of experience with computer, culinary training, and more. Yet I cannot get a simple burger flipping position.