News - Former Felons

A Ray of Hope - Former Felons
By Lorna Hogan - Email at Reentry Bridge Network website - September 12th, 2011

Lorna Hogan, associate director of the Rebecca Project's Sacred Authority program and the mother of four, relates how family treatment programs began the healing and recovery that would end her drug-related criminal activities and release the empowered successful woman the enemy had tried to suppress.

Second Chances After Prison - Former Felons
By New York Times Staff - Email from nytimes.com website - October 13th, 2011

Of about 700,000 people released from prisons this year, more than two-thirds will be re-arrested and more than half returned to prison within three years. Even modest reductions in recidivism could yield huge savings.

After the Hard Life of Prison Comes the Hard Life of the Outside World - Former Felons
By Charles Isherwood - Email at New York Times website - September 21st, 2011

“After” by Chad Beckim is a drama about a man who must learn to make sense of the world again after being wrongly imprisoned.

New Project Offers Hope to California Parolees - Former Felons
By Karen Massie - Email at kmassie@news10.net - September 20th, 2011

SACRAMENTO - They call it Project Hope and California hopes it will reduce the rate of recidivism among parolees.

Ex-convicts take the stage to leave prison behind - Former Felons
By Marc Cabrera - Email from website - September 18th, 2011

"I think the difference between this and a regular theater company is that this is theater that can change your life. That's for the performers and the audience, too,"

Leaving Prison, Free... and Homeless - Former Felons
By Jeanmarie Evelly - Email from Website - August 30th, 2011

It's hard for many New Yorkers to find an apartment they can afford. Those getting out of jail or prison face even steeper obstacles—especially those who need not just a place to sleep, but some help adjusting to life on the outside.

'Reality' checks youths making wrong choices - Former Felons
By Jason Chisari - Email jchisari@fortmilltimes.com - August 21, 2011

"The Reality Check Program" was founded and produced by Larry Lawton, an ex convict who spent 11 years in a maximum security prison after being convicted of racketeering charges.

Fortune Society Hosts GED Graduation Ceremony - Former Felons
By New York Nonprofit Press - Email from website - August 15, 2011

Twenty-five formerly incarcerated men and women recently celebrated the receipt of their Graduate Equivalency Diplomas (GEDs) at a ceremony hosted by the Fortune Society.

Ex-cons defy odds in Long Island City - Former Felons
By Paula Neudorf - Email from website - August, 11, 2011

By simply getting high school diplomas, the black and Latino men among them have literally defied the odds.

Successful Salon Franchise Owner Learned Craft in Prison - Former Felons
By Patricia Simms - Email from WI State Journal Site - July 30, 2011

Kaminski, who spent four of his early years in a Minnesota reformatory on a burglary conviction, had a rough road to success.

Utah makes big gains at keeping parolees free - Former Felons
By Elizabeth Stuart - Email estuart@desnews.com - July 29, 2011

Utah has whittled down the recidivism rate by shifing focus toward more research-based programs.

Forum helps ex-cons trying to turn lives around - Former Felons
By Mike Tolson - Email at chron.com website - July 10, 2011

Support group uses one-time felons who share how they found success after prison.

Re-entry preparation must start early - Former Felons
By Staff - Email at Daily Press Website - June 25th, 2011

Preparing prisoners for successful re-entry into communities is not soft on crime; it is sound public safety policy.

A Higher Purpose for Higher Education in Prison - Former Felons
By Staff - Email at indystar Website - June 10th, 2011

A national study cited by The Star's Dan McFeely in his article last Monday found that education behind bars reduced recidivism 29 percent.

Our view: Reducing recidivism a worthy goal - Former Felons
By Staff - Email at Norwichbulletin.com Website - June 3, 2011

Encouraging inmates to take part in programs that can aid in that effort is a wise investment not only for the individual, but for society as a whole.

Grant targets prison cycle - Former Felons
By Jimmie E. Gates - Email from Clarionledger.com website - May 28, 2011

West Jackson CDC will work in conjunction with MDOC to identify former offenders, ages 18 to 34, to receive help with education, housing and job replacement.

Don't Fear The Prison Decision - Former Felons
By Jeanne Woodford and Barry Krisberg - Email at L.A. Times Website - May 29, 2011

The state won't have to throw open the prison doors to meet the court's order if it embraces very modest sentencing reforms.

Women offenders often get less help transitioning to productive life - Former Felons
By Dwight Hobbes- Email from tcdailyplanet.net website - May 19, 2011

Women characteristically don’t commit the most vicious crimes. Accordingly, the supervision of females gets fewer DOC funding dollars.

In Prison, College Courses Are Few - Former Felons
By Kevin Helliker - Email from Wall Street Journal Website - May 4, 2011

The survey, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, argued for giving inmates greater access to education—including Internet-based programs—on grounds that doing so could reduce the overall cost of incarceration by limiting recidivism.

Are living restrictions for sex offenders the answer? - Former Felons
The Oklahoman Editorial - Email from website - May 2, 2011

NO one wants to be caught defending sex offenders. But what if continuing to prosecute them does more harm than good?

Crime and restortation - Former Felons
By Mario Koran - Email at website - May 2, 2011

Historically, Wisconsin hasn’t been able to punish crime away. When crime occurs, victims are angry. And rightfully so. But if we lock offenders up and don’t give them the tools to change, we’re going to see them again and again.

Officials seek to ease ex-offenders re-entry to society - Former Felons
By Tasha Kates - Email from website - April 28, 2011

“Effective re-entry is what promotes sustainable public safety,” DOC Director Harold Clarke said. “It’s not being soft on crime.”

Instructor celebrates 600th GED for county jail inmates - Former Felons
By Sarah Favot - Email from website - April 29, 2011

“It’s an incredible milestone, and it’s important because a lack of education is a very significant factor that leads to recidivism,”

House bill seeks new rights for ex-convicts - Former Felons
By Patricio G. Balona - email from News-Journal website - April 24, 2011

The wording of the law causes agencies or places they seek for help to automatically deny them employment or business opportunities.

Right to Vote Hard to Regain - Former Felons
By Elizabeth Crisp - email from website - April 11, 2011

State's law on suffrage for felons is called regressive.

Governor's mission to help ex-cons - Former Felons
The Virginian-Pilot Editorial - Email from website - March 28, 2011

The program promises meaningful benefits across the commonwealth and across generations.

Fle. Republicans make it harder for ex-felons to vote - Former Felons
By Peter Wallsten - email from Washington Post - March 10, 2011

Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) and his fellow statewide elected officials agreed Wednesday to roll back rules enacted four years ago that had made it easier for many released felons in the state to regain the right to vote.

FORUM: New veterans court helps those who helped us - Former Felons
By Rocky Chavez - Email From nctimes.com Website - February 06, 2011

The first such program, in Buffalo, New York, has had a zero percent recidivism rate (after two years) of the 120 veterans enrolled in its program.

Repeat Offenders - Former Felons
Editorial - Email through Washington Post website - February 27,2011

Many of the approaches relied on by state and local corrections officials to keep prisoners from committing new offenses are not just ineffective but counterproductive.

Sandusky County offenders given a Second Chance - Former Felons
Submitted Story - Email at TheNewsMessenger.com’s Website -February 16, 2011

Freemont, OH. After past problems with the law, ex-offenders Zachary Davis and Odell Cooley Jr. were hoping for a new start on life.

Grant seeks to reduce repeat criminal offenses in Santa Cruz County - Former Felons
By Stephen Baxter - Email From Santa Cruz Sentinel Website - Feb 8, 2011

Starting this month, one part of the grant will identify inmates who have four or more repeat offenses in the past year and match them with a job specialist to talk about their past work and help them find subsidized jobs.

Oakland man determined to find a way home after 21 years in San Quentin - Former Felon
By Lauren Wilson - No Email - December 3, 2010

On April 8, 2009, Harrison Seuga stepped outside of San Quentin State Prison’s black metal gates for the first time in 21 years.

From Convicted to Committed: DeWarren's Story - Former Felon
By Jim Gibbons - No Email - November 29, 2010

Once he was released from prison, Project Re-entry helped DeWarren Carter with transportation, clothing and other basic needs while he completed Veterinary Assistant training at a local community college. Two years later, DeWarren landed both a full-time job at a local Humane Society as well as a part-time job. He works 50 hours a week and has been able to rent an apartment and buy a car.

Out of crowded prisons and back into society - Former Felon
By Edwin G. Buss - No Email - November 9, 2010

Like so many things in a challenging economy, the corrections system as we know it must change if we want to expect different results. Simply put, corrections must become more efficient and effective in delivering the services essential to reducing the number of inmates returning to overcrowded prisons. Smarter approaches to dealing with those incarcerated and in contact with our criminal justice system must be made a priority.Under Gov. Mitch Daniels' leadership, the Indiana Department of Correction strives to provide innovative programming that addresses the underlying causes of recidivism. We continue to emphasis treatment for substance abuse and criminal behavior. We also aim to provide opportunities for basic education, as well as job training and job retention skills. The department created specialized programs and community transitional services to address these needs.

"This Harlem playground isn't for kids", as ex-con 'Giant' practices his urban workout routine - Former Felon
By Rich Schapiro - rschapiro@nydailynews.com - November 7, 2010

Meet Hassan Yasin, an ex-con from Harlem who has created an urban-style workout program considered one of the hottest in the fitness world. A mix of muscle-busting exercises performed solely on jungle gyms, Yasin's Bartendaz workout was recently featured on the cover of Men's Fitness magazine. Its YouTube videos have gotten millions of hits. At age 20, he was busted on drug charges and spent three and a half years in prison. "I knew the influence in my community, and I tried not to get caught up in it," Yasin said. "But I did, and I'm very happy I did."After prison, he became a social worker, focused on gang prevention and character development. In 1993, he launched his own foundation, called GIANT Thinking ("Growing Is a Noble Thing"), and conducted workshops in schools, shelters and jails.

Convicted killer and Assembly hopeful Edward Gibbs vows to 'make history' as first ex-con state pol - Former Felon
By Barbara Ross - bross@nydailynews.com - September 10, 2010

A Harlem Assembly candidate who has promised to "make history" if he's elected is a convicted killer with a record of drug, domestic violence and other arrests. Community organizer Edward Gibbs has told voters he would "make history" - but until now, he has not said how.

Ex-con defends prison farms - Former Felon
By Ken Noskye - No Email - August 14, 2010

I never thought I would ever write something in support of keeping a prison open. The Harper government's plan to close six prison farms is being met with controversy across the country. The federal government says the operations cost taxpayers more than $4 million a year and don't contribute to an inmate's rehabilitation. What I hadn't realized is that being surrounded by violence and anarchy became a norm for me and then all of the sudden I was surrounded by people who had actual plans of getting out and staying out. Not once was I referred to by a number while I was at the farm. Instead staff and other inmates called me by my first name.

Can you Erase a Criminal past? Dallas Company offers Answers for ex-cons - Former Felon
By Dawn Tongish - No Email Address - August 13, 2010

Williams, who spent years behind bars for a crime he says he didn't commit, started the business offering to clear a person's criminal past. He says he uses the word erase, to eliminate the complicated legal jargon for people seeking to seal or expunge a record. "The bottom line is if you want a job, you don't want a record because the work environment is about trust." Williams say ex-cons are often the last to get hired, especially in a tight job market. He says clearing a record will help with recidivism.

Robber says he did it to go back to prison - Former Felon
By Kristina Davis - kristina.davis@uniontrib.com - July 31, 2010

Lawrence, 71, made his getaway in his wheelchair, with $2,000 in cash on his lap. He was headed back to his rented room at the nearby San Diego Downtown Lodge, but he took a meandering route down Seventh Avenue until the police caught up with him five minutes later. "In my opinion, freedom isn't any good if you can't sustain yourself on the outside."