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| Rikers Cons Look Up To Their Big Sister |
| By New York Post |
| Published: 09/30/2002 |
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In 1978, Liberty Medal nominee Sister Simone Ponnet became the first woman approved by New York state as a prison chaplain in Rikers Island. Since then, Ponnet, a 20-year member of the Roman Catholic Little Sisters Community, has been so successful rehabilitating prisoners that judges have asked her to take and supervise inmates they felt should not be behind bars. And so, nine years ago, Ponnet set up Abraham House in The Bronx, a halfway house where judges assign prisoners to finish out their terms while they hold down a steady job. Carl Landegger, who worked closely with Sister Simone providing jobs and helping the prisoners read and write, nominated her for The Post's Community Liberty Medal. 'She has an unbelievable record helping people to recover,' Landegger said. 'Not one person who has ever stayed with her has returned to prison. They have all become useful, productive citizens and continually come back to visit her.' The facility houses up to 14 people at a time and helps educate residents' children, if they have any. During the summer, Ponnet provides a day camp for children ages 5 to 12 and an activities program for Bronx teens. 'I am so grateful, but why me?' Ponnet said. 'I am honored, but so many people do good work, and they all deserve this recognition.' |
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