News Quincy District Changing Lives Through Literature Program hosts recent graduation

Quincy, MA — The Quincy District CLTL Program has been in place since 2018. Program facilitators include: Assistant Chief Probation Officer Chrissy Oliver, Probation Officer II Angela Rideout, Probation Officer Caitlin Walsh and Dr. Laurel Kornhiser of Quincy College. Participants, who attended the CLTL sessions at Quincy College, read short stories by such authors as Edgar Allen Poe, Ray Bradbury, Herman Melville, and Shirley Jackson, according to ACPO Oliver. 

“I feel privileged to be part of such a great program. For many of our participants this may be the first time in their lives that they feel ‘heard’ and feel that their opinions and points of view matter – and that is a very powerful first step toward long term behavior change,” said ACPO Oliver. “To watch the transformation from the very first class where the silence is almost deafening to the very last class where the barriers have been broken down and the conversation is free flowing is very rewarding.”  

“I loved the powerful themes and messages that each story brought. Because of this I feel I grew as a person,” said one graduate who did not want to be identified by name.

The CLTL program, one of the Massachusetts Trial Court’s longest-running programs, was first introduced nearly 30 years ago by a Probation Officer, judge, and literature professor to engage probationers in an activity that would reduce recidivism and demonstrate to probationers that there are better opportunities available through reading and education.