Partnership saves ex-cons; keeps local families safe
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TRI-CITIES, Wash. -- A partnership between local courts and non-profits aims to keep local streets safer, while helping former inmates stay on the right side of the law.
It's a slippery slope for our courts: How to release inmates and make sure they never return to court again.
Every week, inmates go free and end up back in their old, bad habits. To stem that tide, courts in Benton and Franklin County are beefing up partnerships with non-profits. In past year, the number of collaborations has doubled to more than a dozen. The charities put ex-cons to work, whether it's over graffiti or selling clothes. The goal is always the same: order former inmates to get help after they're released, so they stay on the straight and narrow.
"People say Tri-Cities doesn't have a gang problem and we do have a gang problem. It's those young individuals that are screaming for help," says Jesse Campos.
Campos speaks from experience. The former gang member now runs a non-profit that helps teens get out of gangs. 50 kids are part of his organization. But under the agreement with the courts, participation could double.
"I really believe more leaders are will come out of it and more great work will come out of (the partnership)," Campos says.
The entire partnership is free. In the end, non-profits will benefit with more enrollment, all while ex-cons travel down a better path.
It's a slippery slope for our courts: How to release inmates and make sure they never return to court again.
Every week, inmates go free and end up back in their old, bad habits. To stem that tide, courts in Benton and Franklin County are beefing up partnerships with non-profits. In past year, the number of collaborations has doubled to more than a dozen. The charities put ex-cons to work, whether it's over graffiti or selling clothes. The goal is always the same: order former inmates to get help after they're released, so they stay on the straight and narrow.
"People say Tri-Cities doesn't have a gang problem and we do have a gang problem. It's those young individuals that are screaming for help," says Jesse Campos.
Campos speaks from experience. The former gang member now runs a non-profit that helps teens get out of gangs. 50 kids are part of his organization. But under the agreement with the courts, participation could double.
"I really believe more leaders are will come out of it and more great work will come out of (the partnership)," Campos says.
The entire partnership is free. In the end, non-profits will benefit with more enrollment, all while ex-cons travel down a better path.
