Second Chance Citizen’s Circle: By Chloe Quinn

     On September 29, 2017, Goodwill Industries held a Second Chance Citizen Circle training at our Ashtabula office, hosted by Jennifer Boswell, the Reentry Coordinator from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction (ODRC). The event was an all-day training that focused on the development and management of a Citizen’s Circle group.

     The day began by defining: what is a Citizen’s Circle? First, some key terms. Re-entry was explained as the period in which individuals are released from prison or jail. There were 193 inmates admitted into jails and prisons in Ashtabula County just during the calendar year in 2016.  Recidivism is another key term to learn, which is the rate at which people return to a penal institution after serving an initial sentence. Ashtabula County has a recidivism rate that is lower than the state average, and providing returning citizens with support like Citizen’s Circle helps keep that number low.

     Many people come out of jails and prisons with multiple barriers to overcome. Many counties operate Citizen’s Circles as a way to assist returning offenders in navigating supports and services to readjust to society in a crime-free and productive manner. Circles involve volunteers from various local supports, ranging from social service agencies to faith-based organizations, who meet monthly with participants. A few of Goodwill’s local community partners represented at this training, were Community Counseling Center, ACCAA (Ashtabula County Community Action Agency), Catholic Charities, ACDL (Ashtabula County District Library), Signature Health, and  Everlasting Life Recovery Home. Partners assist citizens in developing an “Action Plan” that addresses their strengths and provides tools and guidance in order for them to achieve their goals.