We would OTHERWISE sound like ex-cins

by revdrjohnson 5 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  revdrjohnson

  Iwas the Executive Director of a mission/shelter for just over four years; then lived in one for a couple of months.

  During that time I met MANY ex-cons, who would congregate and share "war stories" about when they were In the JOINT[b], the way we Exes do about when we were [b]In the b'ORG.

  The only real difference, as I see it, is that the prisons (at least here in Michigan) assign you an Inmate Number which is yours for life. If there are subsequent incarcerations, the system changes the number by affixing an alphabetical character to the original number -- so that Prisoner #1234567, becomes Prisoner #A1234567 the second time he is incarcerated, #b1234567 the second ... and so on.

  It occured to me, a minute ago, that if the b'ORG had given us Publisher ID #s we might actually have a whole lot in common with those who have been incarcerated.

  Keep the Faith
  RAY

  http://xjw-central.com/
  In 23 years ... out 28 ...
• 

  Spartacus

  revdrjohnson, did you know more than 240,000 prisoners will be released during 2002 and 2003. This will be a record number. I also expect the crime rate to go up.

  Have you considered running a halfway house? I here it's profitable and it does not really take a lot of overhead to run. You get paid by the number of beds you have and you are paid enough hire employee's and still make decent money.

  Also, you'll have population to share the Gospel with. I'm not sure of all the details but I do know a brah who is doing very well in the business here in Houston.

  With 240K of prisoners being released these 2 years, there is a big need for halfway houses.

  Peace, Sparky
• 

  revdrjohnson

  Actually, it's funny you should mention that.

  We are in the process of establishing a new Community Coalition (although in Detroit EVERYBODY's gotta half way house) to aggressively attack some key poverty issues (training and Job Preparation Skills, Senior Citizens' transortation, hunger management, etc)

  The coalition is a union of several pastors and other activists. I write 501(c)(3) apps and Articles of Incorporation for churches and non-profits -- that will be another of the services we plan to offer.

  Check out THIS twist on your suggestion: we've talked about seeking venture capital to purchase 5-7 12-passenger vans. In addition to providing transportation to seniors, we've thought about providing fee-based transportation for families who want to visit relatives in prison.

  Halfway houses are too "high maintenance." We started a new church back in 1997, and rented space in a facility owned by a Provider. Believe me, it's VERY high maintenance -- almost on the level of the for-profits who are now managing prisons. Mainly because ultimately YOU are responsible for maintaining your inmate, supervising their probations, disciplining them (which is often like managing siblings in a household), and most importantly retaining good staff. We'd have to find someone who has that kind of patience -- but it's a good suggestion, though.

  Keep the Faith
  RAY

  http://xjw-central.com/
• 

  LDH

  Check out THIS twist on your suggestion: we've talked about seeking venture capital to purchase 5-7 12-passenger vans. In addition to providing transportation to seniors, we've thought about providing fee-based transportation for families who want to visit relatives in prison.

  Well good luck to ya Rev you better hurry up before some liberal panty-waist democrat gets elected...like what happened in NY. And then authors and passes a bill to have the TAXPAYER foot the bill for Leroy and Bobby's wife to go screw 'em during a conjugal visit.

  In New York, the STATE pays for inmate's visitors to take a trip to visit the inmate....as well as buying them MEALS all day long.

  Don't even think of telling me I'm smoking crack...because several sisters in our cong. were waiters at the local Perkins/Denny's...and every week the buses would roll up with all of the city trash (door knocker earrings/tatooes, calling their kids every MF in the book)disembarking and ordering the finest meals on the menu....because it was paid for by the state.

  The convict's family members were abusive to the staff--very few could handle them. Finally Perkins (even tho the money was good) told them to take their buses and their business elsewhere.

  So I hope you can figure out a way to pull this off as a 501C3 before the state decides that the TAXPAYERS should pay to transport visitors.

  Lisa
• 

  Mister Biggs

  Hey, Rev!

  We are assigned an Inmate Number...
  1a7p2o4s8t3a3t9e
• 

  revdrjohnson

  Hadn't thought about the impact the transportation project might have on the Denny's crew!

  Or maybe even on OUR staffers who drive the vans.

  Maybe we'll just have to fergit about THAT plan!

  No, seriously, LDH (LOL) we're just kicking around several ideas for projects to get involved in

  Keep the Faith
  RAY

  http://xjw-central.com/