News  The Suffolk Community Justice Support Center celebrates client’s milestones at Recognition Ceremony during April: Second Chance Month

The clients are being recognized for a range of achievements—from program completion to maintaining sobriety to earning the Hi-Set (GED) degree to finding and maintaining employment and more.

The centers are managed by the Office of Community Corrections (OCC), a department of the Massachusetts Probation Service.

The Boston center, a 9,000-square- foot facility, is one of 18 statewide centers that are hosting these events through June.

Second Chance Month is an observance set by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) “to inform and highlight the many opportunities for state, local, and tribal governments and community-based service providers to build meaningful second chances for people returning from incarceration.”

“The recognition ceremonies are the reason we work so hard for the people that come to the support center. When people can return to their family and friends with a new sense of purpose in their life, their communities are safer and stronger. Nothing makes that impact clearer than seeing the tears of joy that are shed at these events,” said Vincent Lorenti, OCC Executive Director.

Support Center clients participate in treatment, education, career counseling, and case management support, according to Mr. Lorenti.

CJSC clients are also now able to access legal resources thanks to a new pilot partnership between the Court Service Centers and the centers. The Boston center offers the Ralph Gants Project, a jobs and skills training initiative available at all of the centers, and the Franklin Cummings HiTech Program, which provides training in the technical field and subsequent assistance with job placement.

Uninsured clients may enroll in health insurance through MassHealth and MassHealth Connector at the centers. Housing—sober beds and transitional— are another resource at the center made available to clients returning to the community following incarceration.