|
|
| Church groups work to stem violence by reaching ex-offenders |
| By knoxnews.com- Megan Boehnke |
| Published: 04/27/2016 |
|
KNOXVILLE — In the wake of gang-related shootings that killed two children in five months, local leaders have largely turned to programs working with the Knoxville's young people as a solution to ending the violence — even announcing plans last week for a $2.9 million youth center. But while those efforts are meant to intervene with kids before they make bad decisions, another group of church and community leaders wants to reach people after they've made those mistakes. And after they've returned from prison. "Ninety-three to 97 percent of all offenders are going to be released," said Grant Standefer, executive director of Compassion Coalition, a non-profit that helps churches work together to serve the community. "They're going to come back to towns where they were living before. So if something doesn't happen to break that cycle, they get back into the same relationships and same activities. If there's not housing available, if they can't find a job, they tend to slip back into the same patterns." Read More. |
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think