Recently, there were several forums that were open to the public seeking answers to our murder rate problem in Jacksonville. I heard many citizens state that they hoped the Sheriff would include the community more in helping those who create these crimes.
THORMINC has taken a pro-active approach in the community concerning violent crime. Since 2002 THORMINC provides supportive housing and services for men and women who are ex-offenders. They may have committed a violent crime but they have served their time in prison and are now ready to start their lives over with mentoring, life-skills, new clothing, case management and in many cases, sprititual enrichment. However, as the Sheriff asks for money to increase officers for our protection, Department of Corrections is also under the hammer with budget cuts.
THORMINC has been cut 85% in Department of Correction funding to assist the violent offender re-entering Jacksonville’s community. 85%, that averages to going from helping around 25 men quarterly with housing and healing to 1 man for 90 days.
These men and women seek desperately for someone to help them with “actual” housing. It is one thing to get a job but where will you bathe? Where will you get your mail? Where will you be able to get your phone calls as you wait for that potential employer to call?
These men and women often times cannot live with their parents and relatives because families many times are living in Section 8 or HUD housing which does not allow felons to live with relatives in this type of housing. They are already living in crime zones.
Where will these men and women go when they are released? And they are being released and they are coming to Jacksonville seeking a new life. What does Jacksonville have prepared? You can point to jobs, you can give bus tickets but…where will they live and the shelters are full?
Now is the time that the community can come together and have an impact on the lives of those who even times call us before crimes are committed.
These are men who are being released back into our community that have committed murder, aggravated assult, rape, sex offenders, gun charges, car jacking, domestic violence and kidnappers. They are on conditional release and without our help, their backs are up against the wall. Without our help, what is left for them to do but to re-offend and return back to “three hots and a cot”.
Think about it. They have a 7:00-7:00 curfew with a probation officer checking to see if they are inside at that time. To pay their probationary fees they need a job but who hires ex-offenders who have not taken a bath and look unkept? It is hard enough to get a job with a felony background. Without supportive housing where will they live? Some only have a 3rd grade education and others can only read at 5th grade reading level…if they take job training, where will they live during the time of training?
Jacksonville, now it is time to do what you asked the Sheriff and Mayor to allow, and that is so you may help. Together we can help the Sheriff with this violent problem. Join us, together we all can make a difference.
Cassandra Bush
904-536-8155
Executive Director
smithofthelongfield 9:23 pm on February 12, 2008 Permalink
Cassandra,
It was nice meeting you at the JADE meeting today. I was the one sitting next to you. I like your blog! Keep up the good work, and feel free to check mine out some time.
John