Bridgeport Pardons Assistance Project
at The First Baptist Church of
Bridgeport
126 Washington Avenue
Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604
bpapct.org
The first regularly staffed drop-in
pardons assistance office
to cover all of Fairfield County,
Connecticut
Jack's Pardons Story:
Why a Pardon Is Something All Ex-Offenders
Should Aspire To
Many of our friends and colleagues in the Connecticut reentry, recovery
and faith communities know that we at The First Baptist Church of Bridgeport
are in the process of opening the Bridgeport Pardons Assistance Project – which
is the first regularly staffed drop-in pardons assistance office to cover all
of Fairfield County, Connecticut. This
is the story of how this important project came about.
_______________________________
I have a friend for over a decade now named Jack[1],
who just might be the most inspiring person I have ever met. It’s not because Jack has moved
mountains or shouted from so many rooftops – it’s because Jack taught me about
living in gratitude, suiting up and showing up, and remembering my beginnings
so I can be of service to others.
It’s a good list to remember every morning.
Unlike so many other kids from the poor side of the tracks in Connecticut
urban public high schools, Jack had a warm, loving childhood. There was no way
he could have known that giving up an education for the streets was a one way
ticket to poverty and jail. But that’s
what happened. No matter how hard
Jack tried, he just kept drinking and getting arrested.
Nonetheless, Jack was determined to get sober and make a life for himself. He got some technical training, got a
job as an auto mechanic and swore to get sober. He went into recovery, and got some clean time and fought
his way to better jobs with more responsibility – things were going great. But by age thirty-four, Jack was living in a
box under a railroad bridge in Stamford. Living hand to mouth - trying to survive - Jack picked up six felonies in under four years. He was now marked in a way that would
affect his life, his career and his relationships forever.
A couple of years ago, Jack asked me to come see him in his office – despite
his felonies he had done incredible things with his life. He was by that point over ten years
clean and sober; had married a kind, beautiful, sober woman and was the father
of five children – in fact, he had adopted his wife’s two disabled children; he
had risen to become the general manager of one of the most respected car
dealerships in Fairfield County; and was devoting the rest of his time helping
young men straighten themselves out.
This was an incredible turnaround story!
But Jack had a problem he needed to talk to me about – the factory told him that unless he got his felony removed that he would lose his job. Jack told me that he had twice submitted his papers to the State of Connecticut Board Pardons Board - and neither time had the Pardons Board accepted his papers for hearing. Jack was feeling dejected and desperate – and needed help badly.
But Jack had a problem he needed to talk to me about – the factory told him that unless he got his felony removed that he would lose his job. Jack told me that he had twice submitted his papers to the State of Connecticut Board Pardons Board - and neither time had the Pardons Board accepted his papers for hearing. Jack was feeling dejected and desperate – and needed help badly.
I asked Jack if I could see his file and maybe write a letter on his
behalf? I really had no idea what
I was talking about. But I did
have some experience by that point as a Director at Family Reentry and Fresh
Start Enterprises in Bridgeport working with ex-offenders, so I figured I could
look up the rules on the Internet and be helpful. As it turned out, what Jack really needed was someone to
shepherd him through the process.
He had done most of the work already – he’s the one who had turned his
life around – he just needed a little help in telling his story correctly.
Four months later, Jack received his full pardon and kept his job. Jack now appears with me at outreach and other groups, raising awareness and funding for the Bridgeport Pardons Assistance Project.
Four months later, Jack received his full pardon and kept his job. Jack now appears with me at outreach and other groups, raising awareness and funding for the Bridgeport Pardons Assistance Project.
_________________________________
The Bridgeport Pardons Assistance Project is a very big deal for us - and
for the Fairfield County, reentry and recovery communities - because it marks real
on-the-ground change borrowed from enlightened criminal justice theory first discussed
at the Department of Corrections under the leadership of then Commissioner of
Corrections Theresa Lantz, and by Erika Tindill, who currently serves our state
as Chair of the State of Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Why not give each and every ex-offender and his/her family something to
aspire to? Why not create a
culture of public service, volunteerism, goodness, dedication, forgiveness, grace,
discipline, faith, and family – the kind of things an ex-offender needs to obtain
a Pardon? Why not instill in each
and every family the hope and belief that there might be a day that their
nightmare will end – that it will end through their own hope and works, and the
enlightenment of the good people of this state?
After all, in a hospital doesn’t a “discharge plan” start on the first
day a patient is admitted?
Of course, not every ex-offender and family that applies for a Pardon
will be granted one. But great
things can and will happen for all who start the process. So why not start as soon as
possible?
The point is that more ex-offenders who are granted pardons, the more life
will change for the better for all ex-offenders and their families. Now that’s something to aspire to.
For Information Please Contact: Jeff Grant, JD, M Div, Assoc. Minister/Director of Prison Ministries, 126 Washington Ave, Bridgeport, CT, 06830, bpapct.org.
Thanks for great information you wrote about pardon assistance. I am very lucky to get this tips from you.
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We in CT are privileged to benefit from some of the greatest pardon reforms country under the stewardship of an enlightened Pardons Board Chairperson. It takes years of right living, dedication and discipline just to be in a position to apply for a pardon. We have founded the Bridgeport Pardons Assistance Project to start the "Culture of Pardons" for every ex-offender as soon as they are released from prison. It is our hope that together we can build a better community for all ex-offenders and their families.
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