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| Ex-offender becomes statewide director |
| By the cheraw chronicle |
| Published: 04/30/2009 |
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CHESTERFIELD —- John Gordon Jr., a Chesterfield native, is striving to help develop an initiative that will help rehabilitate offenders who have been incarcerated and placed into the judicial system. Gordon has first hand knowledge of what being placed in the judicial system is like. He spent two years in a South Carolina Department of Corrections facility. But as Gordon has been given a second chance to erase stigmas and live an upstanding lifestyle, he feels that offenders should receive the same type of chance. On April 16, Gordon and several others traveled to Columbia to propose a faith-based re-entry and prison reform initiative. Gordon was invited to attend a meeting held before the corrections and penology Senate Committee to introduce alternative solutions for offender rehabilitation. Presiding over the meeting was Mike Fair, R-Greenville. Retired State Supreme Court Judge E.C. Burnette, Commissioner of S.C. Department of Correction Jon Osmint and Chairman of Probation and Parole James Williams were in attendance. The proposal was accepted by the committee and Gordon now has a chance to help those who ace the same uncertainties of the outside world cope with their surroundings. “The goal of this project is to organize resources and activities of this volunteer network and bring much needed grant monies to South Carolina to fiscally underwrite rehabilitation.” Gordon stated. “There is no true, nor lasting, rehabilitation without salvation. Band-Aid approaches will not work. We do not need band aides. We need a rite-aid. In order to REHABILITATE — Releasing every hindrance and becoming inspiringly loving inside, totally alive ‘til eternity — a person must be born again from above and not from fear of a dictator or effort to escape an unwanted experience.” Gordon says that “jail house” religion is one of the many reasons why traditional rehabilitation methods have failed. JUMPSTART — Just Using Masters Plan/Staying True After Release Time — is the networking group that has been formed to begin the rehabilitation efforts. The purpose and goal behind the group have been applauded and accepted by lawmakers across the state. The group has mentors who are ex-offenders who can relate to the people who will look to them for guidance. “JUMPSTART ministry is committed to the goal of providing Christian assistance in the area of preparation, provision, and placement to those individuals who are 2 years or less within their max out or parole dates,” Gordon said. “ Preparation will start with our qualified re-entry program called START — Staying True After Release Time — prior to release by the Department of Corrections. Provisions will include providing assistance with transitional housing, job, and mentoring programs for one year after release. Placement will include assisting individuals with buying their first homes after successful completion of 2 years of our inside/outside re-entry program.” With this program in place, Gordon has been assigned as the regional director for Chesterfield, Lancaster, Darlington, Dillon, Marion, Horry, Georgetown, Williamsburg, Sumter, Marlboro, Kershaw, York, Lee, Florence, Chester, and Clarendon counties to oversee the re-entry programs and transitions back into society. He has also been selected to monitor the statewide program for bridging the gap between offenders and victims. He will meet with the executive director of S.C. Crime and Victims Council and other victim support groups in May. Marcia Tucker of Mt. Croghan, will assist Gordon in the implementation of grief support throughout the state. Currently, Gordon is working on a book entitled “Staying Free-Biblical Truths for Prosperous Living Following Tragedy” and has also developed a program in Chesterfield County. Joyful Living Outreach is a faith-based group that will serve Chesterfield County in an effort to curb and prevent crime, develop programs to address drug addiction and grief support. “Our motto is People Helping People (Ph.P.),” Gordon said. “I left grad school in 1993, a few semesters short of being doctor. John Gordon, Jr., but I would not trade my present peace of mind for a chance to go back. Because I know who I am, I do not have to worry about who others think that I am. My focus is to help others realize this freedom and live it everyday. We have been blessed with board members who share in our vision to make our county a safer place.” The organization’s board members include Chad Vick, Chesterfield; Jerry Hardison, Cheraw; Sammie Copeland, Chesterfield; Dallas Gordon, Cayce; Casey Ryan Copeland, Hartsville; Wilhelmenia R. Fluellen, Chesterfield; Georgiana Knight, Cheraw; George P. Windley, Manning; and Lee Manuel Chapman, Philadelphia. As this journey begins, Gordon says that there is still much to be done. The group is currently seeking donations and assistance to help the organization achieve its goals. Read more. If link has expired, check the website of the article's original news source. |
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I LIVE IN DALLAS TEXAS. I'VE BEEN OUT OF PRISON SINCE 12/08 AND STILL CAN'T GET STEADY EMPLOYMENT. I HAVE A CHILD TO SUPPORT AND THE STRESS IS TEARING US APART.I PRAY CONSTANTLY AND DO NOT SEE ANYONE FROM THE PAST. I HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF JOBS THAT TREATED ME LIKE A THIRD CLASS CITIZEN STRICTLY BECAUSE OF MY RECORD. I AM A VERY HARD WORKER WITH YEARS OF RESTAURANT AND CATERING EXPERIENCE. DO YOU KNOW OF ANYWHERE THAT I MIGHT POSSIBLY GO TO FOR HELP IN THE DALLAS AREA? I REFUSE TO GIVE UP ! ALL I WANT IS A CHANCE TO WORK AND HAVE A REAL LIFE FOR ME AND MY CHILD AGAIN. I'VE TRIED PROJECT RIO,M.A.S.S.,TX.WORKFORCE,AND APPLIED FOR OVER 300 JOBS ONLINE AND IN PERSON. I'VE EVEN ASKED MY PASTOR FOR HELP WITH NO LUCK WHATSOEVER. THE JUDGE TOLD ME THAT MY CHARGES WOULD BE TAKEN OFF OF MY RECORD WHEN I GOT OUT BECAUSE THE COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY HAD ME BASICALLY SIGN MYSELF INTO PRISON WITH SCARE TACTICS WHILE THE JUDGE WAS OUT OF TOWN. NOW THE JUDGE IS NO LONGER ON THE BENCH AND I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE LEGAL SYSTEM . I'VE ALREADY DONE THE TIME AND I FEEL LIKE THE DISCRIMINATION THAT I'M ENCOUNTERING IS STEREOTYPICAL.NOT ALL EX-FELONS ARE JUSTLY IMPRISONED. I WANT TO GET ON WITH MY LIFE AND LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND ME. ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. MAY GOD BLESS YOU FOR THE HELP YOU GIVE TO OTHERS WHO DON'T KNOW GOD AND ARE LOST AFTER BEING RELEASED. YOU PROVIDE A WONDERFUL SERVICE. SINCERELY, SUSIE
It is great that he took a negative and turned it into a positive. Would like to know more about his program. Madeleine Ward CURE IL
It is great that he took a negative and turned it into a positive. Would like to know more about his program. Madeleine Ward CURE IL