Community Builders: Pitt County re-entry program

Community Builders: Pitt County re-entry program (Added: September 02, 2009)

Video from your local news source. (more)

0 Ratings | 0 Video Views

Post a Comment or Rate this Video

» View More Videos

Community Builders: Pitt County re-entry program

Would you hire someone with a criminal record? A new initiative is coming to Pitt County that encourages business owners to do just that.

By Andrew Doud
Published: September 02, 2009

» 0 Comments | Post a Comment

Would you hire someone with a criminal record? A new initiative is coming to Pitt County that encourages business owners to do just that.

Dennis Gaddy, the Executive Director of Community Success Initiative, says there are people in prison just waiting to become productive members of society.

"Statistics say that if a person, who is coming out of prison or a person who is out of prison, if they have a job, that cuts almost in half, their chances of going back to prison," said Gaddy.

He spent Wednesday working on a first of its kind re-entry program in Pitt County that would give former inmates, the opportunities to get jobs that would keep them out of prison.

Sheldon Howard with Community Success Initiative says the key to success is education. "I believe that education can change us, it can equip us for new jobs and give us new skills."

But Howard admits, convincing people that prisoners deserve a second chance is a challenge and a program like this is only for someone who is ready to change.

“One day they sort of shake their head and wake up and say I don't want to do this for the rest of my life," said Howard.

He says people coming out need four things, housing, jobs, human services and educational opportunities.

For Gaddy, what's good for a former prisoner is good for the community he serves.

"If we can keep people from going to prison, going back to prison, then that of course makes our street safer,” said Gaddy.

And that is what makes this a crime prevention program for police.