Feb. 11--How willing would you be to give an ex-offender a second chance after paying his debt to society?

This is just the issue that's being addressed through Project Reentry. The project is grant funded and during their February monthly meeting the Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners approved the submission of a $227,936 grant application to the Governor's Crime Commission to continue funding.

The United States Department of Justice explains that reentry "involves the use of programs targeted at promoting the effective reintegration of offenders back to communities upon release from prison and jail."

Edgecombe County had 331 prison entries between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2009, according to the North Carolina Department of Corrections. During this same time period, 290 inmates were released to Edgecombe County.

As of Dec. 31, 2009, 897 people in the county are on probation with 37 others on parole.

The prison population is composed primarily of black males, 269, followed by 47 white males, six white females, five black females and three of other races.

The Project Reentry approach often involves comprehensive case management including a variety of programs such as prerelease, drug rehabilitation, vocational training and work programs.

In some instances there are reentry courts that promote offender accountability while offering more extensive management of ex-offenders along with treatment and services.

Edgecombe County Clerk of Court Carol White actively works with Project Reentry as the founder of the It Starts With U Foundation, a partner of Project Reentry and said that there are several issues faced by ex-offenders.

"Some of the problems newly released prisoners often face in Edgecombe County include getting a job, as their No. 1 priority with good reason as most (ex-offenders) are young fathers struggling to provide for their families, low levels of education, limited work histories and personal barriers such as substance abuse and anger management," White explained. "With Edgecombe County being an economically distressed county, it is even more difficult for ex-offenders to find resources they need for a successful life after prison."

A lack of transitional housing is also an obstacle faced by many ex-offenders.

The It Starts With U Foundation is a partner with Project Reentry and was founded out of a need to "help build compassionate and positive support for ex-offenders and promote the goal of public safety."

It Starts With U Foundation grew out of a need that White witnessed through the experience of her son.

"My son and I were told to contact the prisoner Reentry Initiative Job Developer, who then contacted an employer with a company in Rocky Mount who was willing to give my son a second chance," White explained on the It Starts With U Foundation Web site.

White's son, Toby, was incarcerated for three years. Now he is married and a full-time student.

"On a daily basis I meet people who are frustrated with the same situations, needing employment and other resources," the site continues. "They can't find work because they have a criminal record or felony charges and often times so many ex-offenders return to a life a crime."

Winston-Salem has implemented a similar program and has had success.

Director of Project Re-entry in Winston-Salem, Rebecca Sauter said that hundreds of ex-offenders have had success with Project Re-entry.

"We help ease their transition," she said. "We help individuals before they get out and by being there for them after they get out, we've proven to them that we're here to help. Participation has increased 400 percent since we started (in 2003). They trusted us, we kept our word and we were there when they got home."

Project Reentry in Winston-Salem was cited as one of the 15 in the nation as a best practice in a federal Department of Justice and the Urban Institute report, "Prisoner Reentry and Community Policing: Strategies for Enhancing Public Safety."

Project Reentry has also been selected as one of three exemplar prisoner re-entry programs in the United States by the American Correctional Association.

Sauter explained that their clients aren't given an advantage over anyone else seeking employment rather they are given equal footing.

"We motivate them to do the best that they can," she said. "Our clients are considered by their merit and their skill, we just level the playing field This is the only kind of program of its kind in the state. The community doesn't understand that 83 percent of individuals released are not supervised. We are thankful to provide a program to help an ex-offender."

White said that the program here in Edgecombe would work to help any adult ex-offender, male or female.

"This program is not a licensed permit to commit crime," said said. "These services will help strengthen public safety, restore family relationships, lend victims' support and provide opportunities to those who have been impacted by the criminal justice system in becoming law abiding and productive citizens.

"An active re-entry program can provide tax breaks for local businesses, while reducing jail populations, lengthy court dockets and reduce the number of repeat offenders who violate probation or parole," continued White. "Once an offender is referred to the program, he or she meets with a case manager and goes through intake, orientation, assessment course and ceremony, job training and hopefully job placement."

Along with It Starts With U, the county Department of Social Services has expressed its support of Project Reentry.

"The DSS plays a tremendous part in the process," White said. "Mrs. Marva Scott, director of social services, plays a significant role, recently she gave ISWU a letter of support. DSS has been at the table since and during the development of our program."

ISWU is housed in the former Edgecombe General Hospital on Main Street, which is owned by Larry Hopkins who shares White's vision of change.

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