Program to Help Inmates
1 min readFederal grants will aid Potter, Elk, and Cameron Counties’ new inmate release program
RIDGWAY – Some inmates in Potter, Elk, and Cameron counties will have a new release option.
Elk County Commissioners said a collaborative effort between varying organizations including Probation Departments, Drug & Alcohol, Prisons, Mental Health, County Board of Assistance, and Children & Youth would create a residency in Cameron county to give some inmates a ‘second chance’.
The plan is to renovate a structure in Cameron county into 9 separate housing units, with an onsite manager. The purpose of the residency is to hopefully guide certain inmates, who have in the past regressed due to environmental influences upon release from prison, an opportunity to be released into an atmosphere not conducive to such regression.
The belief is that some individuals could clean up their act if given the opportunity, and a living environment that does not promote the type of behavior that landed them in prison in the first place.
The Commissioners say they have access to federal grant money for the project.
This would be a wonderful thing for inmates and or juvenile persons with addictions. I am not from this state and where I am from we have many communities like this that DO help people. It is a nice transition for people with addiction problems instead of just doing jail time and being released back into the “jungle”. I would hope to see something like this in every county around this area.
It is about time Potter County gets into something like this. In a lot of cases the inmates don’t have anywhere to go at all but to stay with the “friends” they had that got them in there. And some law enforcement act surprised when that person ends back up in jail. I do think that if given the opportunity at a second chance, most would do very well. The myth that once a convict always a convict is complete bull$%#@. It’s just lack of direction.
I surely hope Potter County pulls through with this and puts this plan into action.
I agree. Nothing like sending an alcoholic to the bar…which metaphorically speaking is what happens to many people with substance abuse problems after they leave jail/prison.
It’s good to see a new approach. I know many people want to change, but it makes it very difficult when you’re put right back into the same old environment, with the same old influences and temptations.