Colorado Prison Program Teaches Inmates About Life Beyond Bars
By Kirk Mitchell
The Denver Post
Reconnecting with old crime cohorts is a common way parolees get into trouble again and cycle back into prison. But a new program created by the Department of Corrections called the Lifetime Offender Program, or LTOP, not only allows certain associations between convicted felons, it requires them. ... The prisoners, who include … habitual criminals, were selected from 400 applicants from across the Colorado prison system, said Eric Holzwarth, assistant parole director. ….The LTOP inmates live together in the same cellblock where they get lessons about living in a digital world. They will be released two at a time to a community corrections program at the Denver County Jail and then to the same halfway house. When they move into their own apartment on parole, they will keep in touch with one another for years.
Read the full article at DenverPost.com
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Ex-Offenders in Florida Get Help with Prescription Meds
News Service of Florida - Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) announced Monday it will offer prescription drug discount cards to newly released inmates and those on probation through a partnership with a company that specializes in helping former offenders get medicine. The cards, provided by Recovery Health Network, will offer up to 75% discounts on prescription medications, certain tests and some imaging services.
They will be provided for free, and FDOC said in its announcement Monday that they are recognizes by more than 54,000 pharmacies nationwide. The card has no expiration date or limits on numbers of prescriptions and FDOC says it will work for all physician-prescribed medications.
One of our reentry goals is to match inmates and offenders with needed resources, said FDOC Secretary Edwin Buss. Putting these prescription cards in the hands of offenders on community supervision and inmates right when they are released will help with the costs of the medications they need.
Turnabout, Inc. Introduces New Budgeting Class
As of this month, we are now offering a new budgeting class for the residents at Fourth Quarter. This new class helps formerly homeless veterans achieve self-sufficiency and financial literacy skills they can use now and going forward to realize their goals. Participants learn the importance of budgeting, how to make a budget…and stick to it, prioritizing expenditures, and exploring supplemental income sources.
Turnabout Hosts Family Talent Show
Turnabout participants have got TALENT! Sixteen all-star acts performed, including poetry readings, singers, keyboardists, a drummer, dog tricks, flair, and a unicyclist! For clients in our mentoring program, and their families, the event was a big hit. First, second and third place prizes were awarded, but all earned well-deserved applause and respect from a packed house.
Denver Awarded New Housing Opportunity
The Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI) is pleased to announce that the Housing and Work Connection (HAWC) has been awarded the 2010 Permanent Housing Bonus for $832,033.
Housing & Work Connection (HAWC) will provide permanent supportive housing along with services that will lead to long-term housing retention and employment opportunities. Members of the Denver's Road Home Employment Subcommittee will provide the needed client case management and employment services.
To view the complete list of new projects awarded in the FY2010 CoC Homeless Assistance Programs competition, please visit HUD’s website to view the press release and awards by state.
Turnabout Staff Invited to Teach Ethics Class at Metro State
Turnabout’s staff members Hassan Latif and Rev. Tina Yankee joined with John Riley, Coalition Coordinator at CCJRC, on April 21 and 22 and met with about 60 students attending three Ethics classes at Metro State College.
John presented the perspective of a person who had been in the correctional system for 30 years (as the person with the keys) and Hassan presented the perspective of a person behind the bars.
Tina shared from her 14 years of work seeking to assist formerly incarcerated individuals to successfully re-enter society. Students questioned the moral principles of ever-increasing criminal law statutes resulting in incarcerating and labeling of young people as felony offenders. One student shared that her brother was a current inmate; she subsequently volunteered 10 hours at Turnabout and completed course requirements.
Evaluations were summarized by Professor Celeste Rossmiller, Ph.D. Overwhelmingly student’s eyes were opened in meeting a former inmate. Students suggested ideas for better use of tax dollars and the importance of second-chances and alternative sentencing.
Trinity United Methodist Church Hosts Sunday Mission Fair
Turnabout joined its sister Missions at Trinity United Methodist Church for the yearly celebration of Missions. As in past years, the Mission Fair was a great a success due to the strong representation of all the missions that Trinity UMC supports, including the Turnabout Career Center.
Trininty United Methodist Church Hosts Special "Turnabout Sunday"
A group of 12 program participants volunteered to join Turnabout staff at a special outreach and education event including two sanctuary services, and several adult Sunday school classes. The event gave participants an opportunity to tell their story to members of Trinity United Methodist Church and describe the "turnabout" they made in their lives. Members of the church experienced a wonderful firsthand glimpse of how faith and service can change lives forever, and generously donated to Turnabout in their offerings.
Turnabout to Implement Higher Education "Field Trips" for Intensive Program Participants
Starting this year, Turnabout will be organizing “field trips” to college campuses, beginning with the College Gateway Program at Red Rocks Community College. We have found that many of our participants have never considered pursuing a higher education, perhaps never having been able to picture themselves in that setting. Our hope is that by literally being transported to a campus, viewing the surroundings, and feeling the atmosphere that they will be able to see a place for themselves there.
In addition to the Field Trips, we are offering information at orientation about Red Rocks College Gateway program, and will continue to host Red Rocks Gateway staff onsite at Turnabout on a monthly basis to assist participants with planning, enrollment and financial aid.
Daddy Hunger is a powerful documentary which addresses the social issue of father absence in the home and the community. The documentary looks into the lives of convicted fathers, single mothers and fatherless children. This documentary addresses the problems and provides a solutions framework.
This universal message of hope and redemption set in the African American communities of northern California and features cameos from Bay-Area based rapper-entrepreneur, J.T. the Bigga Figga and legendary OG street pimp from San Francisco, Fillmore Slim as well as several other meaningful accounts of what Daddy Hunger means to men and women of various backgrounds.
Despite the hardcore rap image, successful hip hop impresario J.T. the Bigga Figga is notoriously known for, we hear a softer side when he tells his own personal story of Daddy Hunger.
"I didn't get no fatherly type love or things like that. I wanted a father who can be a protector…to help me with the things I needed…," he said.
Since its online release in the second quarter of 2007, Daddy Hunger has been garnering a significant “underground street buzz”. The film has been shown at conferences, community events, prisons, juvenile detention centers, churches, indie film festivals, as well as thousands of plays of the Daddy Hunger webisodes on YouTube and Myspace. Daddy Hunger has recently launched a “targeted” national mobile marketing campaign.
June, 2011 - This month, Turnabout is pleased to announce the launch of our newly upgraded and updated web site. We are also very excited to introduce the "Friends of Turnabout" Newsletter!
It's easy to sign up to receive the quarterly newsletter via e-mail. Just click the button below and let us know you'd like to be added to the "Friends of Turnabout" list. Every 3 months, we will send you updates about new Turnabout programs, success stories, articles, event announcements and opportunities to be a part of our community and what we do.
Feel free to let us know your story and how you heard about Turnabout. We always appreciate feedback about what kinds of information and news is important to you. Also, let us know about ways you would like to volunteer or support Turnabout's work. Learn more about ways you can join us in our efforts to reduce recidivism, reverse the cycle of poverty, homelessness, and crime and help struggling families get a second chance at a new beginning.
Housing Colorado, a statewide organization working to educate, inform and advocate for affordable housing invited Rev. Tina Yankee, Executive Director of Turnabout, to co-present with Colorado Criminal Justice Coalition (CCJRC) a powerful and unique webinar highlighting the barriers faced by people with a criminal record as they work to find and keep housing.
The webinar took place Wednesday, April 27th and was viewed by community leaders, service providers, government workers and officials as well as many other professionals and concerned people across the state of Colorado. The webinar presentations are available to download for a limited time from the Housing Colorado Web Site. You can also download them from us here.
Download the CCJRC Presentation (Adobe PDF: 80.5 KB) 
Download the Turnabout Career Center Presentation (Adobe PDF: 239 KB)
The following resources are also available:
Order the Getting on After Getting Out Guide
Download the Homeless and Parole Study from the webinar
Tax Credit of up to $1,000 per worker
You may claim an additional new hire retention credit, up to $1,000 for each qualified employee you keep as an employee for at least a year and whose wages are not significantly reduced in the second half of the year. You claim it on your income tax return for your business, usually in tax year 2011.
6.2% Payroll Tax Exemption
You may be exempt from your share of social security tax on wages paid to qualified employees, effective for wages paid from March 19, 2010, through December 31, 2010. Most employers will claim it on Form 941, Employer’s QUARTERLY Federal Tax Return, beginning with the second quarter of 2010. The exemption will also be claimed on annual payroll tax returns such as Form 944, Employer’s ANNUAL Federal Tax Return.
Qualified Employees
Generally, those beginning employment with you after February 3, 2010, and before January 1, 2011, who were either unemployed or worked 40 hours or less for anyone during the previous 60 days can qualify.
Download the IRS Flyer (Adobe PDF: 88 KB)
Read more on the IRS web site
Also, learn more about the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, and how employers can save an additional $2,400 generally for each new adult hire, or up to $4,800 generally for each new disabled veteran hire!
May 25, 2011 - Twenty five years ago this month, prison inmates in Canon City began training wild horses for adoption. Colorado was the first state to match inmates up with wild horses. Colorado Public Radio's Andrea Dukakis reports on WHIP, the Wild Horse Inmate Program. Then CPR's Ryan Warner talks to supervisor Cody West.
[Photo: Colorado Public Radio]
Work skills training designed to prepare job seekers for success and advancement in high-demand, fast-growing industries is one of the key ways Turnabout helps employers fill jobs with the best, most qualified candidates.
Contact us today to post a job order, find out about our candidates or learn how our job screening and matching process works. It's easy to find a great match for your workplace and skillset needs!
Working together with businesses, community & faith based organizations, educational institutions, government agencies, and private citizens, Turnabout delivers better, more sustainable outcomes.