Offender Aid and Restoration of Richmond, Inc.

The 2004 session of the General Assembly is quickly approaching. The PAPIS (Pre-release and Post-incarceration Services) providers, their Board members, and other supporters have been meeting with legislators and staff at the Office of the Secretary of Public Safety and Department of Criminal Justice Services for the past several months in an effort to assure that funding for PAPIS programs is restored to the state budget for FY 2004-06. In addition to restoring PAPIS funds for offender transition and re-entry services, we have been urging those with whom we have met to address the needs of the huge number of offenders returning to their communities each year by developing a statewide offender re-entry initiative. This initiative would call for a plan of systems integration, collaboration, and partnerships among public and private organizations working with offenders. It is our opinion that such an initiative would create a more efficient and effective transition and re-entry process resulting in an increase in public safety. We will continue these discussions and ask that our supporters throughout the Commonwealth join us in this effort. Those of us in the PAPIS community know, and can prove, that we are “making a difference in the lives of our clients and the safety of our communities”. If you would like to get more involved in our legislative efforts, you may contact me at 643-2746 or oarric@erols.com.

Volunteer News

Since July 2003, 48 volunteers have provided 914 hours of direct service to 220 OAR clients; 17 other volunteers have provided 127 hours of service to the organization. Our sincere appreciation goes out to all our volunteers--we could not be as successful as we are without each of you.

Jerena Bailey, Wendy Brown, Tasha Brubaker, Petric Capers, Cassandra Cranney, Jessica Forsythe, Suzanne Gore, Shantel Hughes, Deborah Moore and Melba Reed.

Petric Capers has recently returned to OAR to volunteer as the facilitator for the Impact of Crime on Victims Class at Richmond City Jail. Petric taught one of the first classes to women at the city jail when the Impact of Crime program first began. With 5 years of experience teaching these classes, she is a well seasoned volunteer and we are glad to have her back.

Part of Petric's interest in volunteering with OAR stems from her experience in several different aspects of the law. She has been a Military Police Officer, a Department of Criminal Justice Services employee, and her daughter is a lawyer and pilot, bringing home the real world experience of the JAG TV show.

When Petric is not busy working as a manager at the Virginia Biosciences Development Center, she follows her own exercise program that incorporates martial arts and yoga techniques. She recently completed the SunTrust Richmond Marathon and enjoys spending time with her daughter and two granddoggies, Sebastian, a miniature pincher, and Zeus, a pit bull.

Volunteer Opportunities

§ Facilitator for Impact of Crime on Victims classes at various locations and times

§ Victims to speak to inmate students in the Impact of Crime on Victims classes

Adopt-a-Client’s Family for Christmas

Santa’s Helpers Make the Holiday Brighter

This year, our Santa’s Helpers are adopting a record number of OAR client families. OAR has partnered with the Church of the Epiphany in Chesterfield this holiday season to provide gifts to the children of some of our clients. As part of the church's “Miracles from the Manger” program, members of the congregation are providing clothing, toys and gift cards to 28 families, reaching a total of 100 people who needed someone to help Santa this holiday season. Another 4 families (a total of 11 people) have been adopted by other volunteers and the OAR staff. Santa should be very proud of his OAR helpers this year!

The Board of Directors Annual Meeting was held November 6. William Johnson, Deputy City Manager for the city of Richmond, spoke about the value of programs like OAR and thanked everyone for their contribution to making our community safer. Jim Bullock was recognized as the Volunteer of the Year and summed up his experience with OAR clients this way: “One of the lessons I have learned while mentoring is that many inmates can not or do not see themselves in any other situation. I try to share with each client visions of alternative lifestyles that do not include criminal activity and subsequent incarceration…and I try to give each client hope for the future by accentuating their positive attributes. I realize that we, as volunteers, can only do as much as the client is willing to participate in.” Mr. Bullock serves as an inspiration to all of us.

STAFF NEWS

Welcome to our newest staff member, Andra Harris. Andra started her new job as OAR’s Central Office receptionist on December 5.

OAR offices will be closed:

December 24 at 12:30 p.m. – December 26

January 1 and 2

Client News…A Success Story

Mr. C. Lee is a 54-year old man who has been an OAR client since 1996. He has had a long history of substance abuse and homelessness. He slept in garages, vacant buildings, under bridges--anywhere he could rest his head. Mr. Lee describes himself as a “bad person” during those times. After accessing numerous community resources, he now has 2 years and 4 months of sobriety and is currently living in a recovery house. In addition he is working two jobs.

Mr. Lee has set numerous goals for himself. He hopes to become a substance abuse counselor and would like to work with problem adolescents. He says that OAR, as well as a number of other service providers, was instrumental in helping him make the transition to safer environments, gain the knowledge to better cope with problems, and reconnect with family. Learning these new skills and having a continuous support network has allowed Mr. Lee to pursue his goal of becoming a productive member of the community.

Making the Case for Providing Services and Support to Job Seekers with Criminal Records

§ Nationally, there are more than 630,000 people coming home from prison each year--about 1,700 people a day. Approximately 25% of all Americans have a criminal record.

§ People who have paid their debt to society and accepted responsibility for their actions deserve a second chance.

§ We hurt our families and our communities when we deny qualified people the right to earn a living.

§ Employers should have the right to choose whom to hire as long as they do not discriminate. Laws restricting this right deny employers that choice.

(Reprinted, in part, from a National H.I.R.E. Network newsletter. For more information check out their website at www.hirenetwork.org)

Charles Adcock, Rod Brooks & Kroger Stores, Virginia Brown, Tasha Brubaker, Katie Campbell, Capital Ale House, Ann Cavan, John Cobb, Barry Cox, Glenn Crawford, Joyce Davis, Ihsani Deavers, Manuel Devderian & Ukrop's, Debbie Farmer & Kroger Stores, Edward Gilchrist, Diana Gray, Homeward, Marc Leslie, Meghan & Peirce Macgill, William Massey, Ernest Moseley, Pamunkey Regional Jail Canteen Account, Lewis Parker, G. W. & Bertie Powell, Quality CCTV Systems, Inc., St. Paul's Episcopal Church Women, Gail & Harold Straus, Virginia Commonwealth Corporation, Patricia Walton, Alice Washington, Susie & Hubie White, Pamela & Glenn Wilson, Michael Wright, and Gray Wyatt who contributed gift certificates, money, or other items during this last quarter.

Wachovia Securities canalWALK Update

Thanks to the support of the sponsoring businesses, Wachovia Securities, Hunton & Williams, Performance Food Group, and Richmond LISC, and donations from our supporters OAR received almost $4,000 from this awareness and fundraising event.