 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2002 (XXXX 4) |
It started with a phone call to a member of Haddonfield Meeting (NJ) from an attorney seeking help for his client. The New Jersey Supreme Court had determined that the Department of Corrections and the Parole Board had acted illegally in denying parole to Thomas Trantino and had ordered his release. During his 38 years in prison, Thomas had lived up to vows he had made to himself to repudiate drugs, alcohol and violence and had turned his considerable energy and talents toward helping others. Now he was doing the same beyond prison walls. But voices in the press were speaking out against him, some even calling for Thomas’ execution, and political pressure was making it impossible for him to find a job or a place to live.
Local Friends reached out to help Thomas with transportation, household goods, and more importantly, friendship. In the process, Friends witnessed firsthand the pressures and obstacles faced by prisoners re-entering society, the needs of society, and the lack of resources to help. Responding to the power of the spirit within, Haddonfield Meeting, with the support of many other Meetings, became the sponsor of Beyond Prison Walls: Friends Transition Support Services (FTSS), a program started in May.
FTSS offers support at the crossroads where adults and young people who have harmed society, their families, and themselves can make different choices, life-affirming choices. The program works to reduce violence and to increase peace by offering:
- re-entry services for people being released from prison;
- classes in conflict resolution, anger management, substance abuse and other issues;
- preparation for carefully screened former prisoners to share their experiences on the realities of prison life with at-risk youth and adults; and
- programs to educate and activate the public.
Since May, a long list of volunteers from all seven Meetings in Haddonfield Quarter and elsewhere have joined the project. Thomas Trantino has been hired as its program coordinator and a diverse and committed steering committee has been meeting regularly to provide direction. Numerous groups have already requested its services, and we've presented programs to Meetings and community groups. A powerful corporate leading has made FTSS the largest New Jersey Friends’ project in years. FTSS invites you to join this vital program as we help move society away from a criminal justice model steeped in retribution and punishment and toward a community justice model of support, treatment and education. Contact Thomas Trantino at 856-962-8266 or Priscilla Adams at 609-835-4285.
Justin Loughry and Priscilla Adams
Haddonfield Meeting (NJ)
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM