4/8/2004 8:43:00 AM Greenville minister seeks help from community for ex-cons
By Will Sanders
TROY — There are 132 people paroled from criminal institutions living in Miami County and without community support, a majority of them are headed back to prison, a Darke County minister told Miami County Commissioners Tuesday.
"Statistically," the Rev. John Graham said, "that is what happens."
Graham, who is a Daily Call and Daily Advocate columnist, addressed the commission seeking support of a program, Citizen Circles, aimed at providing mentoring services to people paroled by criminal institutions to reduce the chances of recidivism.
Commissioners — who authorized 64 percent of all general fund expenditures for county criminal justice-related departments — said they would support such a program, commenting it would help down the road.
"It sounds like something we will be supportive of," Commissioner Ann Baird said. "It will help us in the long run."
The 64 percent figure represents $25 million going into the sheriff's department, municipal and common pleas court and the jail and incarceration facility.
Though a majority of the 64 percent figure are expenditures of necessity, such a program, if successful in its mission, would lower costs in the future.
"It was 51 percent when I started," Baird said, who has been a commissioner since 1995.
Citizen Circles operates on the belief that if an offender feels accepted by their community, they are less likely to commit another crime. Under the program, community members would volunteer time to mentor an offender so they do not resume old criminal behaviors.
"Most people do not want to go to prison, they just don't know how to stay out," Graham said. "Or, they just don't see any hope."
Graham said he mentored and supported a Greenville ex-convict last year who found religion while in prison. Graham supported the man and, through Graham's assistance, the man got a job, got his daughter off welfare, and, most importantly, turned his life around.
"If we ignore the problem, they will probably go back to jail," Graham said. "But if we face it, and deal with it, it makes the community safer."
Graham said Citizen Circles would probably be initiated this summer in Miami County, at which point Graham said he would also like to begin the program in Darke County.
He said the program would operate with funds from grants and donations.
Graham, who is working with the Miami County Adult Parole Authority, met with Piqua City Commissioners Monday night reviewing the program. He said he plans to visit Troy and Tipp City councils in the coming month.
An informational meeting will be held at the Tipp City United Methodist Church, 8 W. Main St., from 2 to 4 p.m. and again from 6 to 8 p.m. on June 15.
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