This past week I had the priviledge to visit Dinsmore Work Release Center (WRC) for men. Dinsmore is an area in the Northwest section of Duval County, a.k.a. Jacksonville. It is hardly a place a traveler would find without Mapquest or directions from the WRC staff (then again, why would you?)



Dinsmore is affiliated with Lawtey Correctional Institute in Lawtey, Florida. Lawtey and Dinsmore are faith and character based operations under the guise of Florida Department of Corrections (FDC.) Men are assigned to Dinsmore as a somewhat half-way house. All at Dinsmore are near release from FDC. The premise being to send the men to Dinsmore in an effort for them to find employment and merge back into society.



Here is the rub on this. Most of these men (I can only suppose the women are similar) have little or no skills except what they had before entering prison. Dinsmore does not house violent or sex offenders. These are men who for the most part are there on drug related offenses, with a few thefts and less violent offenses (not trying to diminish their convictions.)



In addition to little or no skills, there is the issue of clothing and preparation for finding a job. Can you believe this? Send men to a facility without enough clothes to find a job in hopes of finding a job!!! Many are illiterate or without diplomas/GEDs. This is not about blame, but it is what it is.



Jacksonville's Mayor John Peyton is trying to merge ex-offenders into our community by encouraging employers to hire ex-offenders. In addition to the problems with clothing, the WRC is literally in the boonies. Only recently was transportation available for Dinsmore personnel. A city bus runs twice daily, but not on a schedule that would allow most "day only" employees to commute.



So what is the solution? The WRC director purchases clothing for the men on Craig's List just to get them to the job. Employers have stated they could/would hire men but transportation still serves as the problem.



Let me throw this on the table. Any ideas or solutions? Can the community come together in this day and time, considering the economy, solve this problem or is it just a matter of time like the rest of the community?