Transcript Pinellas Ex Offender Reentry Coalition

Pinellas Ex Offender Reentry
Coalition
Working Together as a
Community for Successful
Reintegration
Pinellas Ex Offender Reentry
Coalition
 Coalition of Human Services, Faith Based,
Governmental, and various other Program and
Service Providers with the intention of helping ex
offenders coming into Pinellas County either out
of the Department of Corrections or the Pinellas
County Jail successfully reenter society and not
recidivate.
Pinellas Ex Offender Reentry
Coalition
 Statistics:
2000 + inmates from DOC come into Pinellas
County per month/year after serving a sentence in a
state prison
607/7282 reenter Pinellas County per month/year
after serving a county jail sentence
Recidivism Rates: Prison, 60-70%; Pinellas County
Jail, 50-60%
Pinellas Ex Offender Reentry
Coalition
 What ex offenders need in order to be successful
and not re-offend:
Housing
Subsistence resources
Medications/counseling
EMPLOYMENT
Federal Reentry Initiatives
“
In the past, we have worked together
to bring mentors to the children of
prisoners, and provide treatment for the
addicted, and help for the homeless.
Tonight I ask you to consider another
group of Americans in need of help.
This year, some 600,000 inmates will be
released from prison back into society.”
Federal Reentry Initiatives

“ We know from long experience that if they
can't find work, or a home, or help, they are
much more likely to commit more crimes and
return to prison. So tonight, I propose a fouryear, 300 million dollar Prisoner Re-Entry
Initiative to expand job training and
placement services, to provide transitional
housing, and to help newly released
prisoners get mentoring, including from faithbased groups.”
Federal Reentry Initiatives
 “ America
is the land of the second
chance, and when the gates of the
prison open, the path ahead should lead
to a better life.”
 President George W. Bush, as delivered
in the State of the Union Address,
January 21, 2004.
PERC HISTORY
The Coalition, in its earliest form, began coming
together in April, 1988 based on a “Needs At Release
Survey” done by the Pinellas County Jail. The PERC
has met diligently each month for well over ten years to
try and meet ex offender needs
 January, 1989 “Coming Home: Corrections and Human
Service Professionals Cooperating to Help Ex
Offenders Reenter the Community Successfully” This
Showcase of Services, which links ex offenders to
resources,is held yearly, usually at PTEC South

PERC HISTORY (cont.)
 October, 1999
Pinellas Ex Offender Reentry
Coalition incorporated by the State of Florida.
Finally, in November, 2001 PERC awarded first
grant in order to obtain 501c3, continue in
jail/prison contact with soon to be release
inmates and support for the Showcase of
Services.
Local Initiatives

Programs:
Project New Attitudes
Project Success
WorkNet Pinellas
STARS
Goodwill
Operation PAR
Sixth Judicial Circuit
Various Others
Local Initiatives
 Faith Based:
Grant Funded; Grant Funding Initiatives
Federal Office, Oversight
Churches, Chaplains – All Denominations
– Greene Chapel AME
– Catholic Dioceses of St. Petersburg
– Catholic Charities
– Mt. Zion Human Services
Opportunity
 Advantages of Hiring Ex Offenders:
Loyalty
Lowered Training Costs
Work Opportunity Tax Credits
Federal Bonding Programs – Limits Risk, Liability –
Insurance Immediately
Advantages of Community Supervision
– Federal, State, and County Level
– Enhanced Lines of Communication
Contact Information
Frank Kopczynski, PERC Chairman, Host Criminal
Justice Forum (Saturday’s at noon 1340 AM) 727-5300146, [email protected]
 Mark Sieg, Assistant Program Manager, Goodwill
Industries Suncoast, 727-523-1423 ext.417,
[email protected]
 Michael Jalazo, Program Administrator, Project New
Attitudes, Pinellas County Sheriffs Office, 727-4537407, [email protected]

Contact Information
[email protected]
 Web Address: www.exoffender.org