Articles
& News
August 1, 2008
Houston to Help Ex-Inmates Fit Back
into Community
HOUSTON -- Eric Baylor is adjusting to
life as a free man. In March, he was released from prison, but he
says because of his felony record he can't find a job.
"Even though we've made mistakes, we paid our debt to society, and
we're just looking for a chance to be reintegrated back into
society," Baylor said.
But the city of Houston is hoping to change the hopelessness of
the recently released with a new program designed to re-integrate
offenders.
Eric Baylor
The city's health department will begin the re-entry effort next
week at the northeast multi-service center. It's operating off a
half-million dollars in funding from the mayor's office.
It will provide jobs, housing and health counseling to those who
are just released from prison.
"What we found is that the same thing that people are re-entering
from prison or jail need is real similar to what the other people
in the community need,"Savannah said.
Sheila Savannah says that's a job and a home.
Without that, city officials say the 16,000 inmates released into
Houston annually could land back behind bars. Texas has a 35
percent recidivism rate.
Click here to see the full video story by
FOX 26's Isiah Carey.
