900 Men Transition from Prison to the Community
Chicago Reentry Program Gives Second Chances
CHICAGO, Nov. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Monday, November 18, the Crossroads Adult Transition Center (ATC), a Safer Foundation (Safer) community-based, work-release facility on Chicago's west side located at 3210 W. Arthington, will celebrate its 30th anniversary. The event will commence with an Open House from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. with a program from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. during which organization leaders and public officials will talk about the value of the center. Countless success stories have been captured and are chronicled in the facility's 30-year history and some will be highlighted during the program.
Research has indicated a positive correlation between employment and education – twin keys to lower recidivism and higher social mobility. Safer's CEO Diane Williams noted, "Each year, thousands of men return to our communities from Illinois prisons, and access to employment, education, and other support services offered at Crossroads is a clear road to a more successful transition."
In 1983 the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) contracted with Safer to operate the then 60-bed facility that allowed incarcerated individuals to serve out the last six to 24 months of their sentences. Today, the facility can house up to 380 male residents.
The purpose of the ATC is to give selected participants who meet certain criteria the opportunity to transition to the community prior to release in order to improve the likelihood of success upon release. Joseph Frye, the first director of the facility said, "The team named the facility 'crossroads' because the focus is to help transition the men from prison to a critical point in their lives, a crossroad, where they must make decisions and choices that will lead to successful reentry."
Safer's guiding principle is the belief that helping people with criminal records to prepare for, acquire, and maintain employment is key to reducing recidivism. One such story of triumph belongs to former Crossroads resident, William Hall. In a recent telephone interview, Hall stated, "With the help, support, trust and respect of the staff at Crossroads, I worked to further my education, as well as move up the ranks at Five Guys Restaurant from crew member in 2009 to district manager in 2013 where I oversee six stores from Washington, DC to Columbia, Maryland."
SOURCE Safer Foundation
Share this article