MIDDLESEX COUNTY PRISON COORDINATING COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER (Next Meeting; 11/14/'07)

MCPCC met on Oct. 10, 2007 in West Newton. Mary Ann Donaldson, Chairperson, Carol Winton, Coordinator, Tom Crowther, Treasurer, Bill Berguist, and Marjorie Moerschner were present. Our guests were Susan Rourke, Director of Reintegration Services at the Billerica House of Correction and Mark Hemenway, Director of New England Prison Ministries.

Tom drew our attention to a news item in the Boston Herald of Oct. 4 about a Superior Court judge who ordered Sheriff DiPaola to reincarcerate in Billerica all inmates who had released to their homes wearing electronic bracelets. Tom will send a letter in MCPCC's name to the editor of the Herald in support of the electronic bracelet system.

Susan first spoke to us about a year ago when the Reintegration program was just getting under way. Now the program, the vision of Human Services Director Sean McAdam, is running smoothly and many good things are happening. Six new case managers have been hired under a grant, so there are now 11 full time case managers. Each has a case load of 60 to 70 men. All men serving sentences of more than 60 days get a case manager.

The upstairs pod, housing the new men unit, is open and works very well. All men go through this unit. Those serving sentences of mote than 6o days are assessed here, using a comprehensive Canadian tool which estimates the risk for recidivism and indicates what programs are needed to lessen that risk. There are 4 assessment specialists who administer this assessment tool. Short term men get a less comprehensive intake, but can ask for help if they want to, and may be given a case manager, or be referred to an outside agency when they leave. After assessment the case managers set up a plan for each man. It is then reviewed by the classification board with periodic reviews as an inmate goes through the system.

The culinary arts program is still going strong. Jeff Henderson, head chef at a fine hotel, learned to cook in prison; he's written a book, "Cooked" about his life and has a TV program. Upon the Sheriff's invitation, he spoke at the graduation of a recent culinary arts `class held in a tent on the Billerica grounds! Previous graduates of this program were also invited to attend and many did. MCPCC will attest to the wonderful refreshments prepared by the first graduating class for our art show last year.

Other training programs include mattress making and a horticulture program. Mums are raised in the prison greenhouse and sold to shops. Some inmates on work release have jobs with landscapers; their gardening experience will help them to get jobs, even to start their own businesses when they leave. There

are all sorts of other programs and groups going on for inmates. Every case manager has a group of some sort, as do many of the case workers. Programs are also being given in the infirmary. Deacon John McMillan, a former Billerica chaplain, is now involved in a Syrian Catholic church but still comes to the prison to manage the complicated scheduling for all these groups.

An inmate who has been given parole and will be discharged to a program or halfway house is now driven there by a male case manager in an unmarked van, with a stop first at the Parole Office. This new system, in collaboration with the Parole Office, ensures that an inmate doesn't get lost or sidetracked on the way. Men on parole have to be taken to their destination- men who are wrapping a sentence don't, but the prison encourages it. The prison has just received a grant to purchase two vehicles, one for work release and one for case managers to use as above.

Susan found the clothes donated to the prison last year very helpful and could use more, especially pants. Sweat pants are ok, in extra large and even extra extra large sizes, as well as laundered slacks and jeans with waists 38" and up, length 30 or 32". Money for emergency purchases is helpful too.

One of the good new things at the prison which Susan mentioned is Mark's mentoring program, and Mark told us about it. It started about a year ago. It's another way to prevent recidivism. The answer, Mark feels, is the love expressed through Christ. Mentoring is listening, establishing a relationship, offering emotional support and some practical help, as men transition to the outside. The program is open to those of any or no faith. Mark has 8 mentors and would like more. All are volunteers. One is an ex-con. There is a list of 60 men who would like to be mentored; mentors can only manage one or two at a time. They have learned to screen the mentees more carefully, working with the case managers. They want men who will stay with the program after they leave prison when they need it most. Ideally, mentors spend 6 months with a mentee while he is in prison, talking with him during prison visiting hours, and up to 6 months mentoring him on the outside. Housing is the most difficult problem for men leaving prison. This program is just in Billerica now, but Mark is about to start training mentors for women coming back from the Merrimac Valley facility from the women’s prison in Framingham.

Mark closed with a prayer for prisoners and all those concerned with them.

We thank Susan and Mark for coming a long distance to meet with us!

We voted to contribute $100 to Mark's mentoring program and $200 to Susan's clothing pantry.

NEXT MEETING: NOV. 14, 2007 at 7 PM

SECOND CHURCH IN NEWTON 60 HIGHLAND STREET, WEST NEWTON