The Orange County Criminal Justice Resource Department (CJRD) and its Local Reentry Council (LRC) are hosting two events this April to bring light to the challenges faced by community members as they transition back into society after completing sentences of incarceration.
On Friday, April 12, from 12:30 to 2 p.m., they will host a lunch and panel discussion about N.C. House Bill 836 at the Carrboro Century Center at 100 North Greensboro St, Carrboro. This Bill proposes several significant reentry reforms. The panel discussion features four state representatives sponsoring or supporting the Bill: Rep. Marcia Morey, Rep. Vernetta Alston, Rep. Renée Price, and Rep. Lindsey Prather. The moderator will be Barbara Foushee, Carrboro Mayor.
On Wednesday, April 17, from 12:30 to 2 p.m., the LRC will host a screening of the documentary short, “Welcome Home?” at the Seymour Center at 2551 Homestead Rd., Chapel Hill. This will be the premiere of the documentary by Minnow Media, which addresses the often-overwhelming barriers to housing that Orange County residents face during reentry. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion including reentry and housing advocates.
“N.C. Reentry Month is an opportunity to address important issues that impact our returning residents, who seek stability, safety, and an opportunity to work and support their families,” said CJRD Director Caitlin Fenhagen. “However, this return to the community is filled with obstacles and hardships that can make this transition very challenging. If we want Orange County to be a welcoming community for all, we must understand these barriers and seek to reduce them.”
The purpose of the LRC, as mandated by the N.C. Department of Public Safety, is to coordinate resources in the community in order to assist residents and their families as they transition from incarceration to society. In addition to assembling these resources and addressing gaps, the LRC and its umbrella agency, the CJRD, provide case management services, funding, harm reduction and support to formerly incarcerated clients.