By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
February 22, 2012

All it takes is one felony conviction to dramatically impact a felon’s future.

“Twenty years ago, a felony conviction did not mean what it means today. Today, it is really debilitating,” said Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker. “There are many employers that will not even look at you no matter what the offense.”

Previously, if a person successfully completed a suspended imposition of sentence, it would not show up on his or her record for employers to see, she said.

“That doesn’t hold true today,” Baker said, adding that employers have become more computer savvy.

Employment rejection creates a vicious cycle and prevents felons from becoming productive citizens.

To end the cycle and give young, first-time offenders a fresh start, Baker is launching a program called, “New Start.”

New Start takes a holistic approach by connecting offenders ages 17 to 21 with education opportunities, mentors, life skills curriculum and client advocates. To qualify for the program, they must be non-violent offenders with no history of sex violations. Only successful completion of the program will result in a dropped felony conviction.

“It’s an incentive to change now, rather than when it’s too late and you have the burden of a felony conviction,” said Michael Mansur, public information officer for the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.

Asked why she wanted to launch the program, Baker said over the years she’s noticed a common theme in those facing the prosecutor and judge for a criminal offense.

“Almost all share the same characteristics. That is a lack of education,” she said. “So, I’ve always thought, ‘Someday we have to do better. Someday we have to address that.’ I thought well now that I’m prosecutor, maybe that day is now.”

The pilot program, made possible through those already employed through Jackson County’s COMBAT (Community Backed Anti-Drug Tax), will be tailored to each individual and last approximately 18 months. The goal is to prevent an individual from becoming a repeat offender by giving him or her tools to be successful. Applicants must demonstrate a willingness to change their lives and must undergo screening, which includes a needs’ assessment, an evaluation of alcohol and drug history and mental health issues.

Those chosen to participate in the program will meet weekly with a client advocate in the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office. Client advocates will focus on an individual’s progress and also address future needs. In addition, the advocates will meet with the offender’s family and family members must participate in the program three times per year.

Program participants will undergo weekly urinalysis, meet twice a month with a community mentor, and for the first six to eight months, will meet for weekly training sessions with life skills leader Michael Toombs.

“He has a lot of experience working with these types of at-risk youth, so we think he’ll be a good fit to help these first dozen guys in New Start,” Mansur said.

Toombs’ curriculum will include coping, decision making, problem-solving, anger management, conflict resolution and confidence building.

Providing the life skills education helps remove road blocks in the classroom -whether it be high school or college classes, Baker said.

“I understand this population is going to have a set of issues that have impaired their ability to be successful in the classroom,” Baker explained. “The first part (of the program) is to address those kinds of inhibitors, so they can be successful when they enter a classroom setting.”

Baker is currently working to secure funding for the educational component to help participants secure a GED, take college courses or attend a trade school.

Applicants for New Start are currently being screened and Baker said she wants to turn the pilot program into a permanent staple.

“For me, this is a program that ultimately saves public dollars,” she said. “If they are successful, it will absolutely without a question be a savings to the community as a whole because we will not be spending dollars for probation and parole services, for incarceration services, which is far more expensive than education.”