TDOC Hosts Take One Brunch In Johnson City

JOHNSON CITY - Yesterday morning Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Tony Parker and Representative Johnny Shaw (D-Bolivar) hosted a Take One recruitment brunch at Muncey Memorial United Methodist Church.  Take One is a collaboration between faith-based and non-profit organizations throughout the state to help offenders leaving correctional facilities to successfully re-enter society.  Take One encourages each organization to agree to mentor one offender for one year.

An estimated 90% of incarcerated offenders will eventually be released back into our communities.  This program allows TDOC to not only operate safe and secure prisons and provide effective community supervision, but also enhance public safety by helping prepare offenders for re-entry to the community.  “Too often people think that offenders are solely the responsibility of the Department of Correction,” states Commissioner Parker.  “We must all remember that the inmates we house came from the community and will return to the community when their time with us is complete.  To really impact recidivism, we must work together – TDOC and the community – to really give these offenders a second chance and the support they need to be successful.”

This program creates a network of organizations that provides offenders with a variety of supportive services to assist them during their first year of release.  If you would like to learn more about the Take One program, visit www.tn.gov/correction.