I can't believe I'm saying this, but Yeah for Florida's governor Jeb Bush!!

This article was from the 3/18/04 edition of Florida's "The Ledger:

Breaking the Cycle of Crime

Americans are rightly intolerant of repeat criminal offenders and strongly support keeping them behind bars. Often, however, those offenders leave behind children who must cope with the fact that a parent is incarcerated. According to a federal study, the children of offenders are seven times more likely than other children to become delinquents or criminals themselves.

So, instead of deterring crime, society is, in a perverse way, spreading crime to a new generation.

Now, however, steps are being taken to interrupt the cycle of crime. A new federal program is being piloted in Florida called "Children of Prisoners: Children of Promise." The aim is to provide mentoring for selected children to help them cope with their special problems and to encourage them to stay out of trouble. If they do so, they can qualify for college scholarships. The federal government intends to expand the program across the nation if it proves successful in Florida.

Gov. Jeb Bush kicked off the program last week at Tomoka Correctional Institution at Daytona Beach. With his mother and incarcerated father looking on, John A. Kramer, 15, of Palm Bay, signed a performance contract putting him in the program. About 20 other children of male inmates at Tomoka and 40 children of female inmates at Broward Correctional Institution also will participate in the pilot program.

"It is a great opportunity to give children of prisoners a chance in life," Bush said. "The stigma of having a family member in prison can be tough."

Let's hope the program works. Florida has an estimated 60,000 other children who have an incarcerated parent, and the odds against them succeeding in life are fairly bleak. A program like this, if successful, can do wonders for them, as well as "take a bite out of crime" for the next generation.

Jillian, Thanks so much for posting this. I highly agree with the article 100%. It's a sad fact of life but it is so true. Children do mimic what they see their parents and other adults do. The kids need something like this type of program so they won't make the same mistakes as their parents do.

This is great news. I'm not sure I like the "selected" children though, but it's a start. Let's all hope and pray that this initiative is successful enough to include all 60,000 kids.

I watch developments in Florida very closely because I have penpals there. I'm suspicious of such an ambitious and expensive program being started up in an important election year for the Bush family. Especially with all of the serious budget cuts that are hitting that state right now.

And I think that wildcare touched on something about "selected" children. The Bu****es will be sure to "select" the easiest and potentially most successful kids to advertise the "success" of the program.

IF they are serious, then this is a great development. But keep a close eye on it for now.

I agree Russ, funny timing also

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I sure hope this is a legitimate step to making some things better, but where Florida is concerned I am cynical!