New Criminal And Drug Rehab Program Helps A Man Discover His Potentiality



Julio was last arrested at 30 years old. Born and raised in Clovis, New Mexico, he moved to Las Vegas, New Mexico, when he was 18, where he graduated High School and then began college.

His drug use began recreationally, when a friend showed him the high of sniffing inhalants, gold spray paint. A few years later he was addicted and his attitude in life and his actions had completely changed. Once a good student and a top All State soccer player he flunked out of college. He had lost his dreams.

Years later, he was in Texas and lead a police car on a high speed chase. When they finally popped the tires and then captured Julio he managed to slip out of the hand cuffs. He stole a police car at the scene, and almost ran over a cop in his race to leave the scene. The state tried him for "attempt to commit capital murder on PD", but fortunately the video showed that he swerved to avoid hitting the officer. Given a five year sentence for getting out of restraint from handcuffs, he did 2.5 years and was paroled in 2005. Julio maintained sobriety through his parole sentence but relapsed and moved back to NM. He lost his wife who went back to Dallas with his second son.

He was rearrested and sentenced for possession of aerosol, misdemeanor attempt to use it for a euphoric feeling. He was busted inhaling behind a housing project in a vacant yard.

Once in the system, again, the social worker for the public defenders office referred him to a new criminal and drug rehabilitation program in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Second Chance Program was opened by Rick Pendery, who is the national executive director of the Second Chance Centers, after having a high rate of success running the Second Chance Program in state prisons.

Julio has been taking part in the program for six months, he explains what a difference it has made in his life, "Everything has changed. My self confidence is restored, I have self esteem. I no longer see myself as a loser. I have potential to learn, my hunger to get educated has returned. Education is the one thing that can"t be taken away from a person. I want to go back to school. I believe that the best counselor is one who has been through it. I want to help others. I also want to be a soccer coach. And I like to use words, I might want to do something in the field of English literature."

The Second Chance Program consists of four core modules, the Drug Rehabilitation Module, the Learning Skills Module, the Self Respect Module all of which are delivered in a secure residential facility, on an intensive eight-hour a day, six-day a week course schedule over an average of six to eight months. The Reintegration Module which includes Life Skills is continued post release to ensure their successful reintegration into the community as a productive citizen.

I feel strongly that this program needs to made available to people.", Julio explains. "I can"t say enough how I feel that it will save lives. That is what it comes down to: Second Chance has become a front line battle for lives out here, the staff here that are willing to pass on what they are being taught are front line soldiers. The drug war is everywhere. We are battling an unseen enemy that is very prevalent. This enemy needs to be addressed. We can"t cover it up. People can"t wait until it affects them or someone they know."

Comments: [0] / Post comment:
22 Aug 2008 07:37:48

Program contributes to increase in student math scores - MLive.com

Program contributes to increase in student math scores MLive.com, MI - In Muskegon schools alone, math scores on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program tests increased by 15 percentage points since teachers became involved ...
22 Aug 2008 07:08:15

Immigration agency scraps self-deport program - WAND

Providence Journal Immigration agency scraps self-deport program WAND, IL - (AP) - The federal government will scrap a program allowing illegal immigrants to turn themselves in for deportation. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement ... Few takers in immigration's 'self-deport' program Immigration Round-Up Immigration agency scraps self-deport program
22 Aug 2008 07:00:02

UWIG Announces Scholarship, Meeting Attendance Assistance Program - MarketWatch

UWIG Announces Scholarship, Meeting Attendance Assistance Program MarketWatch - These scholarships and stipends are intended to encourage completion of a college education, or vocational degrees and programs as well as to further the ...

Keywords: