May 04, 2016
Franklin County Reentry Summit to be Held on May 16th
May 2, 2016 - CHAMBERSBURG, PA – The newly formed Franklin County Reentry Coalition is hosting a Reentry Summit from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Monday, May 16, 2016, at the King Street Church in Chambersburg. Everyone is welcome to this free event.
Each month, an average of 200 individuals, having served their sentence, are released from the Franklin County Jail. These individuals are confronted with a complex transition back into the community. The Reentry Summit will provide attendees with an opportunity to learn about issues and barriers faced by ex-offenders when reintegrating into society and how they can help to reduce those barriers, which benefits both the formerly incarcerated individual and our community.
Nationally recognized experts are scheduled to speak throughout the day. Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel will give the opening address. Wetzel is the former Franklin County Jail warden and was recently featured on the TV show 60 Minutes discussing the criminal justice system. The keynote speaker for the event, Myrinda Schweitzer, is a leading researcher in the area of criminal risks and needs. Information on local reentry initiatives will be presented. Carrie Gray, Franklin County Assistant Administrator, will review the recent work of the Franklin County Reentry Coalition, including their vision and mission. There will be a discussion on barriers to prosocial living with a panel of formerly incarcerated individuals.
The afternoon includes small group discussions on Education/Employment, Housing Issues, Substance Abuse, the Coalition’s Purpose, Faith Community, and Behavioral/Mental Health. All topics will relate to issues ex-offenders face after incarceration. The goal for the summit is to provide a learning experience for the community as well as a discussion forum to determine what issues the Reentry Coalition will focus on in the future.
This is a free public event. Lunch will be provided and reservations are required. For more information or to reserve a seat, please contact Kim Eaton at kmeaton@franklincountypa.gov or 717-263-0450. RSVP by May 11.
The Franklin County Reentry Coalition is a collaborative group of professionals, individuals and community organizations dedicated to fostering the successful reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals into our community, as contributing members of our community, to prevent recidivism and improve public safety.
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