Catholic Charities' Maryland Re-entry Partnership to hold March 12 Graduation for 41 clients

One-year milestone of successful re-entry into the community celebrated by ex-offenders

March 14, 2008

Renee Johnson,
Director of Media and Public Relations
(410) 547-5436, cell (410) 816-6152
rjohnson@cc-md.org

On March 12, 2008, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., 41 ex-offenders will celebrate one year of successful re-entry into the community at Catholic Charities’ Maryland Re-entry Partnership graduation ceremony. The event will be held at Our Daily Bread Employment Center, 725 Fallsway, Baltimore, 21202. This is the fifth year of the program that assists male ex-offenders successfully remain out of the prison system.

“We have 41 men who have defied the statistics,” says Program Director Trevor Britt. “These men are working, reconnecting with family, pursuing educational attainment and contributing to society.”

The keynote speaker is Bridal E. Pearson, Ph.D., Director of the University of Baltimore’s Human Services Program. Citations will be presented on behalf of Senator Nathaniel McFadden and by Del. Jill P. Carter. The Maryland Re-entry Partnership will formally acknowledge support from Parole and Probation, and Druid Heights Community Development Corporation.

The Maryland Re-entry Partnership is an ex-offender re-entry program for men returning to Baltimore city communities after leaving prison or jail and. Compared to the state recidivism rate of 51.9 percent over three years, participants in the re-entry program have a recidivism rate of only 11 percent over the same period. The program is effective because it matches ex-offenders with case managers, many of whom have a successful re-entry themselves who assist integrating the men into their communities. Prior to their release, the program participants meet with their case managers. On the day of their release, their case managers are there to greet them at the prison gate. The case managers assist the men in securing housing and employment, as well as counseling them on substance abuse and other issues, all in an effort to help these men transition into a stable living environment. The community-based program operates in five Baltimore zip codes—21205, 21213, 21216, 21217, 21218—into which the majority of the city’s prison population returns.

Catholic Charities is Maryland’s leading nonprofit provider of human services, welcoming and serving people of all faiths and races who are in need. We are rooted in faith and have a rich history of effective programs that significantly improve the lives of children and families, seniors, the disadvantaged, and people with developmental disabilities.

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