Memphis man gets county job after prison

(Memphis 07/23/2007) Michael Hooks, Jr. is now on the payroll at the 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.
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