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Article Last Updated: Wednesday, February 12, 2003 - 10:16:23 PM MST

OTHER ARTICLES IN THIS SECTION 2/13/2003 - Weathering the Storm - Storm brings Southland rainfall level to normal - Local teens lawmakers for a week - Condition of county's roads, parks, bridges rated poor - Auditions planned; one division cut, others expanded - Memorial service set for 'Urb' Stair - Man denies shooting, killing security guard - Keeping mature minds active - Montebello council OKs resealing for 15 streets - http://www.whittierdailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,207%7E12026%7E1176201,00.html - http://www.whittierdailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,207%7E12026%7E1176346,00.html - Around Whittier Study offers ways to help offenders back in society By Susan McRoberts , Staff Writer DOWNEY -- Offenders released from jail or prison face so many barriers blending back into the community that more than one-third of them fail, according to a study released Wednesday. The report recommended 40 actions to help offenders reintegrate into society. Many are already in practice in the Los Angeles County Department of Probation and the state Department of Corrections, officials said Wednesday. The study, by a group of Philadelphia corrections officials, lawyers, community leaders, social workers and ministers, was intended to help Philadelphia improve its recidivism rate. Search for Common Ground, a conflict-resolution organization based in Washington, D.C., conceived the project at the request of Philadelphia Mayor W. Wilson Goode Sr. The report, entitled "They're Coming Back,' is expected to be a blueprint for other communities, said Gil Kulick at Search for Common Ground. There are 60,000 adults on probation in Los Angeles County. City statistics were not immediately available, said Ken Kondo, spokesman for the county Department of Probation. In Santa Fe Springs, more than 1,200 parolees reported to parole officers in January. That's 100 more than last year. In El Monte, more than 1,700 report each month. "Men and women who re- enter society do so with unresolved substance-abuse problems, chronic health issues, a substandard education and a general lack of resources or a genuine lack of will to truly reintegrate,' said the report. The county Department of Probation is addressing those problems, said Kondo. "The Department of Probation deals only with offenders coming out of county jail,' he said. "We try to connect them with opportunity.' Job training, education and counseling programs are available. The Department of Corrections, which handles state prison inmates, changed its focus about four years ago when studies showed that 80 percent had alcohol or drug problems and most had little education, said spokesman Russ Heimerich. Training programs have spread. In Santa Fe Springs, computer literacy classes are available. Job placement assistance is available in the same office. The Probation Department started a program in August 2001 allowing those on probation to attend community college, Kondo said. Wednesday's report also recommended that inmates plan for release before that day arrives. "Upon incarceration, issues should be identified that could interfere with reintegration,' the report stated. "Incarceration could provide the time to address these issues.' "We are in favor of preparing inmates for release, it's just usually a question of resources,' Heimerich said. Employment is one of the single most important predictors of whether an offender will succeed. Employers resist hiring people with criminal records, the group said. The report recommended that employers be educated about the benefits of hiring offenders, which often includes tax breaks. Attitudes in the community are also key. "Many offenders view their criminal background as an insurmountable obstacle that permanently excludes them from full membership in the community,' the report stated. Additional community involvement is needed, including correspondence with incarcerated offenders to help them remain part of a community. Many church groups minister to incarcerated people, but do nothing when the offender is released. "Hundreds of groups go in and hold Bible study, but they don't open their arms when these people come home,' said Carol Reza, founder of Bridge of Faith, a Whittier charity that helps released offenders find homes, jobs and God. "Churches are the best resource in our community, and some of them are not welcoming the ones who need help the most.' Groups and church organizations should explore subsidized transitional housing where community service would be required in lieu of payment. "The community is our most important partner,' Kondo said. The study said that for every failure, there is a person who has seized opportunities and turned his or her life around. "There are success stories out there, they just don't always make the front page of the newspaper,' Kondo agreed. -- Susan McRoberts can be reached at (562) 698-0955, Ext. 3029, or by e- mail at sue.mcroberts@sgvn.com .

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