State and local groups want to help ex-offenders stay out of jail. Today, First Church of the Nazarene in Rock Island held its 4th annual Summit of Hope for people with criminal records.
It's part of a statewide program sponsored by the Illinois Department of Corrections, and features over 50 service providers. Attendees can get hair cuts, flu shots, and information from employment and housing agencies, and faith-based organizations. Jan Leone, chief probation officer for Rock Island County, calls it "a one-stop shop for people in need."
"From this, they're able to come back to our offices and get assistance from their probation or parole officer, so it just gives them the tools to be successful instead of just coming out and letting them be, because that doesn't ever work. They end up going up to jail or prison anyway."
Over 400 people signed up for the expo. Robert Gathwright, from Rock Island, was one of them. The 31-year-old has been in and out of jail since he was 17, and he's currently on parole.
"Choices...bad decisions...trying to take the wide path instead of the narrow one. They've got a lot of valuable things they're offering up here, so, as far as with myself personally, I found it valuable because it's time for a change, and I want to do things the right way and stay on the right side of the law."
According to Marcus King, a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Corrections, statewide recidivism has gone down 8% within the past two years, and they want it to keep falling.
