T.O.U.C.H
Ap r i l - M a y B i - M o n t h l y
N ew s l e t t e r
Issue 2
Teaching Opportunity Unity by Connecting Hearts
CHOICES: Horrible Living Conditions, Homelessness, or Prison
Once released and returning home, what type of housing should returnees expect? Surely housing is a
critical component in the ex-offender re-entry process. After serving a sentence, returnee’s expectations
regarding housing should at minimum meet livable conditions. However, this is often not the case. Returnees
seeking housing sometimes face shocking circumstances such as unsuitable living conditions, if housing is
available at all. Those returnees released without supervision sometimes are left to navigate housing on
their own.
There are housing programs available in the areas which basically operate as rooming houses. Some are
good. Most are horrible. More often than not, the residence is located in run-down and crime infested
neighborhoods. Basically each house has a supervisor that monitors the occupants and enforces the rules of
the house. Typically, the rent is anywhere from $350 to $400 per month (for basically a room), paid by either
the returnee or the state. This is a large amount for a shared residence. Tenants share refrigerators, and
sometimes because of over crowding, even a room.
At this price you would expect the house or apartment to be fully furnished, or at least have furniture in
good condition. However, this is usually not the case. Most residences merely include a sofa, a table, and a
mattress on the floor in the bedroom. These items (used furniture) appear in some cases to have been
retrieved out of ...(Continue at www.touchimp.org) Article by Sarah Unger and Caitlin Condon
$2.6 Million Judicial Corruption Scandal Uncovered:
[Teens Used as Cash Cows, Given Jail Sentences for Profit]
Corruption and scandal in the Pennsylvania court system has sent teens down a path that has led to
depression, drop outs, and a jaded view of the court system. In Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania two judges took
millions of dollars in kickbacks for giving ridiculously harsh sentences for minor crimes, and in some cases
no crimes at all. The corruption began in 2002, and was not looked into until 2006. Judges Mark Ciavarella
and Michael Conahan of Luzerne County have received $2.6 million dollars in payoffs from PA Child Care
LLC and a sister company, Western PA Child Care LLC to send juveniles to privately owned detention
centers.
The process began by intentionally removing funding from the Luzerne County Juvenile detention facility,
effectively closing that facility. Next they entered a “Placement Guarantee Agreement” to house juveniles in
a facility in which the judges had a financial interest, thus guaranteeing that the Court of Common Pleas
would pay an annual “Rental Agreement” sum of $1,314,000. The judges received payments into
businesses they controlled, and falsely identified the payments as rental fees for ...(Continue at
www.touchimp.org for the rest of the story.) Article by Teresa Senge
Special Thanks to the following whose generous donations keep TOUCH up and running:
*Davis & Brandel Accounting *Capital University
*Charlie Marcum*Jeff Mclnturf- Realty Options *Universal Property Solutions Cardinal Container/Box
*Attorney-at-Law Ed Malek * Devry University
* O'Reilly Auto Parts
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Second Chance or Second Sentence?
Last April former President Bush signed into law new legislation named the “Second Chance Act”.
Basically, the Act is a new source of funding for ex-offender re-entry services which help provide returnees a
second chance in their lives. Hence the name Second Chance Act. One could easily assume former
President Bush recognized that former prisoners deserved and needed to be given a second chance towards
re-establishing themselves. In fact, the former President stated in his 2004 State of the Union address,
“...America is the land of the SECOND CHANCE, and when the gates of prison open, the path ahead should
lead to a better life.” Unfortunately, in many instances, in the form of words and actions our society disagree.
After release returnees face many obstacles entrenched and enforced within society. For instance,
background checks eliminate them from decent employment and housing. They are surrounded with
suspicion from family, friends, peers, and the community at large. They are quickly discouraged when misled
and directed to participate in re-entry programs that are non-productive and ineffective; suffer from insurance
companies refusing to provide life insurance while on probation or parole. These are only a few of the
ingredients I term as the SECOND SENTENCE.
Most offenders during the last months of their imprisonment gain a sense of accomplishment. “I did it. I
made it”; “I served my sentence, paid my debt to society, and my mistakes are now behind me”. “Finally, I
can get on with my life”. Actually, once released, and most times unexpectedly, they are quickly confronted
with the SHOCKING REALITY that their initial term of imprisonment included an additional term of
punishment, (other than probation). The SECOND SENTENCE, which exists after completing their term of
incarceration.
During our T.O.U.C.H Talk Session Therapy Discussions, I constantly hear our program participants
becoming discouraged because they feel no REAL or TRUE second chance exists for them. For example,
one participant, (we will call him Joe), and his sister was job seeking (putting in job applications). After Joe
submitted his application with a potential employer, he waited to be called for an interview while his sister
was being interviewed. During the sister's interview a staff member, in a panic, interrupted the sister's
interview and harshly confronted the actual person conducting the interview, holding Joe's application,
stating, “don't you screen these applications? This applicant, (Joe), is a criminal etc...” . The sister remained
silent.
After completing her interview the sister told Joe what had happened and that the person conducting the
interviews was not going to call him back for an interview. During our Talk Session, Joe said “I went home
and cried”. Here is a man that recently paid his debt (18 years) to society, obviously made the personal
decision of CHANGE, and honestly searching and hoping for a job but was harshly slapped with the reality of
his SECOND SENTENCE.
After hearing this and other similar types of incidents returnee's suffer daily, I'm personally overwhelmed
with several questions, such as: “if a U.S. President, Commander In Chief, Leader of the free world, can
recognize the need for returnees to be provided a second chance, why can't society in general? What does
our community expect from a man like Joe? Why should returnees be expected to live in unsuitable and
unlivable housing conditions? (See front page article). Does a second chance really exist for returnees?
When attempting to answer these questions I must first add, returnees should not have any sense of
entitlement or privilege. Returnees have to put there nose to the grindstone and make personal
success happen just like the next person. In fact, our Talk Session motto is “Success is not an Option,
and Mediocrity is not a Choice”.
However, the reality remains, society has placed stereotypes on returnees that won't disappear overnight.
Stereotyping is only a single component of the many obstacles or the SECOND SENTENCE, returnees must
learn to overcome. Our T.O.U.C.H. Mentor Program platform informs our participants with the reality of the
SECOND SENTENCE, then equips our participants with the tools and strategy to assist with overcoming the
SECOND SENTENCE and its components.
In conclusion, now I must ask you a question. In the past or even in the future, when confronted with an exoffender, how will you judge your interaction? A SECOND CHANCE or a SECOND SENTENCE?
Until Next Time,
Brian K. Woods
T.O.U.C.H. Welcomes your comments and answers. Feel free to post your comments, answers,
and opinions at our website www.touchimp.org. Follow the Survey or the Contact Us links.
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TOUCH
3968 E. Main Street
Whitehall, OH 43213
Phone: 614.338.8733
Fax: 614.338.8743
E-mail:
touchprgm@gmail.com
Always Looking to the Future
As society is forever changing, it is important for TOUCH to
offer excellent and useful programs to ex-offenders living in this
ever changing society. So here are some things that TOUCH is
working on bringing to our participants and the community:
•
Our Computer Literacy Workshop is up and operating
and accepting enrollment. Workshops are Thursday
from 5-6:30 PM
•
Be on the look out for a dedication ceremony for our
DeVry Computer Enlightenment Center
We’re on the Web!
•
Re-entry approval is currentlypending with ODRC
www.touchimp.org &
myspace.com/touchprgm
•
Contact us for info about free massages/fundraising
via our community partner Granger Chiropractic!
•
We're planning a June/July Fundraising event, so be
on the look out for more info!
•
We'll be offering tours of our new facility soon!
Congratulations!
To Kim Robinson
for receiving
The Parole Officer
of the Year Award.
The Adult Parole
Authority
Columbus Region
And always be on the look out for the success stories of our
participants!
We welcome you to join our Reach Out And Touch
Society (ROAT). Become a member by website.
Donations via mail.
PLACE
YOUR
AD
HERE
Our Capital University Partners, Pi Phi Epsilon Sorority
(Caitlin and Sarah)
Connecting Hearts
Our partner, The Venue on Front, is a perfect example of Reaching Out and TOUCHing. The Venue will be
honoring and recognizing participants for their program achievements through events held at The Venue on Front.
The Venue on Front has offered access to celebrity personalities as incentives for TOUCH program participants to
enroll and complete offered programming.
SPONSOR/DONOR CARD (Make all checks payable to Metropolitan Communty Services) Your donations are
tax deductible. (Tax ID: 31-1062847) Individuals, businesses, organization and foundations are eligible to
associate with the TOUCH program and support its work through tax-deductible gifts, donations, and contributions.
Sponsor Application- Please Check one
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$250 Monthly Commitment- provides a free advertising link on our website, a free logo on our next
bi-monthly newsletter, listing as a sponsor in all public relations events/campaigns, receive perdiodic
updates of new programs and successes, an invitation to bi-annual facility tours, and an invitation to
participate on the advisory board.
◽ Gold Sponsor
$125 Monthly Commitment- provides a free advertising link on our website, a free logo on our next
newsletter, receive periodic updates of new programs and successes, and an invitation to bi-annual
facility tours.
◽ Silver Sponsor
$75 Monthly Commitment- provides a free logo on our next bi-monthly newsletter, receive periodic
updates of new programs and successes, and an invitation to bi-annual facility tours.
◽ Bronze Sponsor
$50 Monthly Commitment- receive periodic updates of new program and successes and an invitation
to bi-annual facility tours
◽ Standard Sponsor
$25 Monthly Commitment- receive an invitation to bi-annual facility tours
◽ One Time Donation
◽ $500.00
◽ $250.00
◽ $125.00
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◽ Commit as a one (1) year Sponsor/Donor of Metropolitan Community Services program as designated above.
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