Feb. 28:  150 Former Texas Inmates Celebrate Freedom and a Second Chance

“If it wasn’t for this program I would not have known that change was possible.” - Benita Nelson, Texas Offenders Reentry Initiative, 2010 Graduate

DALLAS, Feb. 16, 2010—The state of Texas supervises some 78,000 former prisoners who are on probation or parole and are now living in our neighborhoods.¹  Another 32,000 Texas prisoners were eligible for release last year.¹  For many, staying out of jail will be difficult-which is why next weekend a group of former inmates will be celebrating the hard work they have invested to defy those odds. 

The keys to successful reentry to society for former inmates is the ability to find jobs, locate housing, obtain needed social services such as alcohol and substance abuse treatment, and surround themselves with positive influences and mentors.  Failure in any of these areas could make them part of a discouraging national statistic: More than half of released prisoners will return to prison within three years.²  That is why Bishop T.D. Jakes helped create the Texas Offenders Reentry Initiative (TORI).

On Feb. 28 at 9:00 a.m., one day before the start of criminal justice month, Bishop Jakes will celebrate with the families of 150 former inmates who are graduating from the TORI program.  The celebration will take place at Bishop Jakes' Dallas-based church, The Potter's House.  Also scheduled to attend the event are Tina Naidoo, executive director of TORI, and representatives from the U.S. Attorney General's Office, The White House Office for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the Texas Department of Corrections.

TORI is a 12-month program that addresses the needs of men and women who served time in prison and are returning to their communities in Texas.  TORI helps guide these ex-offenders and provides them with the opportunities they need to successfully reintegrate into society-and stay out of prison.  The program offers comprehensive treatment and services in several areas including employment coaching, mentorship, housing, financial literacy, substance abuse counseling, family reunification and spiritual chaplaincy services.

Food Network star Jeff Henderson, who served 10 years in prison for a drug conviction and is now host of The Chef Jeff Project, will serve as the ceremony's keynote speaker.

TORI currently serves five cities: Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin and Houston. Visit www.medc-tori.org for more information.

To register for media credentials for the TORI graduation ceremony go to DeMossNews.com/ph.  Individual biographies for TORI graduates are available upon request.  For interviews please contact Dana Slagle at (469) 360-7104 or dslagle@tdjakes.org.

About The Potter's House of Dallas

A globally recognized church of more than 30,000 members located in Dallas, The Potter's House strives to be the voice and the hand that encourages people of all creeds and cultures to change their lives with hope, comfort and peace.  The church is led by Bishop T. D. Jakes, twice featured on the cover of Time magazine as "America's Best Preacher" and as one of this nation's "25 most influential evangelicals."

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¹ Texas Department of Criminal Justice, 2008 Annual Review

² Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2010