 A VINCENTIAN SOLUTION TO THE CRIPPLING PROBLEM OF RECIDIVISM IN THE UNITED STATES.  A TRANSITIONS-TO-COMMUNITY DESIGN FOR RETURNING CITIZENS.  THE ST. PETER CLAVER PRISON MINISTRY ORLANDO, FLORIDA

WHO IS ST. PETER CLAVER?  17 th CENTURY JESUIT PRIEST & PATRON SAINT OF PRISONERS.  BAPTIZED & COMFORTED 0VER 300,000 AFRICAN SLAVES BROUGHT TO COLUMBIA OVER 30 YEARS.  CANONIZED IN 1888 BY POPE LEO XIII.

ABOUT ST. PETER CLAVER’S CONFERENCE IN ORLANDO  STARTED WITH 4 VINCENTIANS IN 2006 GOING IN TO PRISON, STARTED HELP AFTER RELEASE IN STARTED FEMALE POPULATION IN 2011  CREATED AS A SPECIAL SERVICES CONFERENCE IN  FUNDED BY THE DIOCESAN COUNCIL, CONFERENCE TWINNING, DONATIONS & GRANTS. IN 2013 OPENED FR. ENNIS VILLAGE  SINCE INCEPTION WE’VE DEALT WITH 150 PRISONERS,143 OF WHOM ARE STILL OUT OF PRISON.  THAT’S A 95% SUCCESS RATE!

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS ?  THE U.S. HAS 2.3 MILLION MEN & WOMEN IN PRISON. THAT’S AS MANY PRISONERS AS CHINA AND RUSSIA COMBINED!  TOTAL COST TO INCARCERATE AMERICA’S PRISONERS IS $80 BILLION. THAT’S ENOUGH FOR THE TUITION OF 14 MILLION COLLEGE STUDENTS NEARLY 60 PERCENT OF ALL STUDENTS.  THE DOJ REPORTS THAT 6 OF 10 FELONS ARE RE- INCARCERATED WITHIN 3 YEARS.  FIRST YEAR COST TO RE-INCARCERATE IS $60,000.  EVERY YEAR OF PRISON BEYOND THAT IS $30,000.

 HOUSING & JOB OPPORTUNITIES LOCALLY AVAILABLE.  WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH WARDEN & CHAPLAIN.  COMMUNITY AWARENESS: EMPLOYERS, PROBATION OFFICERS, POLICE DEPARTMENTS, CLERGY AND CHURCHES.  MINISTRY CORE TEAM OF AT LEAST 6 – 7 MEN.  THIS IS WHAT BUILDS A 95 PERCENT SUCCESS RATE! FUNDAMENTALS FOR SUCCESS

3 STEPS TO SUCCESS WHAT ARE THEY?  STEP 1: THE PASSPORT PROGRAM  STEP 2: THE UPLIFT PROGRAM  STEP 3: MENTORING

2015 YEARLY COSTS FOR 45 MEN  HOUSING $ 31, %  STAFFING 31, %  UTILITIES 8, %  DOCUMENTATIONS & FINES 7,500 7 %  BACKPACKS & WOMEN’S MINISTRY 10,000 9 %  STIPENDS 4, %  TRANSPORTATION 5, %  EMPLOYMENT NECESSITIES 5, %  ADMINISTRATION & SUPPLIES 7,680 7 %

FACTORS TO BE AWARE OF  HOUSING  DRUG & ALCOHOL ISSUES  RESIDENT GUIDELINES & RULES  YOU WILL LOSE PARTICIPANTS!

3 STEPS TO SUCCESS RESULTS  IN THE LAST YEAR 29 MEN HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM. ONLY ONE RETURNED TO PRISON.  28 OF THE 29 EXITED WITH JOBS, ENROLLED IN SCHOOL OR BOTH.  15 STILL HAVE THEIR ORIGINAL JOB AND 13 HAVE MOVED ON TO BETTER ONES.  FOUR HAVE RETURNED TO SCHOOL TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION.  97% OF THESE MEN ARE CITIZENS IN OUR COMMUNITY!

WHY SHOULD YOU DO THIS? “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Matthew 25:36