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By Sarah Hutchins The Virginian-Pilot May 25, 2012 WILLIAMSBURG A year after Norfolk launched the state's first "re-entrycourt" to help inmates make the transition back into societyafter incarceration, officials said it will probably be anotheryear before any of the program's 17 participants could graduate. The pilot program, launched in March 2011, is aimed at reducingrecidivism and helping inmates become productive members of thecommunity, Norfolk Circuit Court Chief Judge Junius Fulton IIIexplained Thursday at a statewide re-entry conference inWilliamsburg. In 2008, 13,170 inmates returned to Virginia communities, accordingto statistics provided by Norfolk. Of those offenders, the largest number - close to 1,000 - returnedto Norfolk. "They gotta come home sometime," Fulton said. "If wedon't do the right thing on that end, law enforcement officialswill be very busy.... We're not talking about being soft on crime.We're talking about being smart." For eligible inmates, admittance to the voluntary program isgenerally part of sentencing for a probation violation or a newoffense, Fulton said. The program, modeled after the city's drug court, is designed totake about 18 months to complete. Offenders serve at least six months in the Norfolk City Jail in apre-release phase, which includes workshops on topics such as GEDpreparation, anger management and employment skills. After release, they must look for work or enroll in school, makeregular appearances in court and take part in peer-therapysessions. They also undergo drug testing, said Lekita Sykes, asenior re-entry probation and parole officer in Norfolk. Re-entry court comes with incentives: six months off the low end ofsentencing guidelines and the end of all probation obligations uponsuccessful completion of the program. But Maj. Mike O'Toole of theNorfolk Sheriff's Office said many inmates are not interested inthe program. Inmates on the re-entry court docket must waive their FourthAmendment rights protecting them from unreasonable searches. Theyalso give up their right to have a lawyer present if they getsanctioned for violating conditions of the program. Fulton said that final provision is important. It allows the courtto impose immediate consequences - from writing an essay tocommunity service to jail time - on an offender who breaks therules. The supervision is enough to make some inmates say, "I'll justtake my time in jail," O'Toole said. Still, Fulton said the program is showing signs of success. "The fact that they're working and paying court costs -they're clean and sober - those are foundations for long-term,successful reintegration in the community." Sarah Hutchins, 757-222-5131, sarah.hutchins@pilotonline.com. I am an expert from weldflange.com, while we provides the quality product, such as SAE Split Flange Manufacturer , Weld Neck Flange Manufacturer, Butt Weld Flange,and more.
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