For Immediate Release:
College Vs. Prison -Three Deep East Texas Counties Are Working To Open Youth Preservation Colleges
The Bus Tour Will Start At 1:00 PM Friday April 16, 2010 at The John Lightfoot Law Enforcement Center - Nacogdoches Texas
Henderson, Texas April 14, 2010 “A positive outlook for our nations at-risk youth!” said, Bishop L. J. Guillory, Ombudsman General to Ombudsman International, Inc. a not for profit United States Government Oversight Agency. Bishop Guillory who has been working with Judge Dorothy Tigner Thompson of Nacogdoches a long with other Public Officials and Judges in Deep East Texas for more than four years to open what he calls “Youth Preservation College” which will give a Second Chance to first time Offenders.
Our Youth as well as Men and Women that fit the placement criteria from the Court Deferred Adjudication List will be given the opportunity to complete a two year college program. The graduates will receive their AA or AS Degree. Graduates will also be brought back to court and have their records cleaned. We feel with a clean record and a degree in hand these young people will have a fighting chance to make it. Most paramount, we move them from wards of the court to taxpaying productive citizens, said Dr. Merilyn Session
April 09, 2008, (former) President Bush signed the Second Chance Act (P.L. 110-199) into Law. The bill received bipartisan support from both chambers of Congress.
On Friday April 16, 2010 “Judges, Get on The Bus” and tour the three sites for the Youth Preservation Colleges and will hold a Live Press Conference Scheduled 6:00 PM CST the last stop of the tour 410 SAND Street Henderson Texas. The Second Chance Act and Colleges have wide support. “Judge Joe English, Nacogdoches, Texas, Judge Rick L. Campbell, Center, Texas, and Judge Sandra Hodges, Henderson Texas are among a New Breed of Public Officials who Stand Up and Fight for their Communities” said, Rev. M. Bill
Mayor John D. Windham, Center Texas; told Carmelita Pope Freeman, Regional Director with the United States Justice Department - Community Relations Service, that the City of Center welcomes any support that the Federal Government will give to the College coming to Center. “We need this in Center Texas and We Support it 100 percent!” Joyce Ann Brown, Author of the Book: Justice Denied will also be on the tour.
For more information, please contact Bishop L. J. Guillory (310) 980-0816 or Judge Dorothy Tigner Thompson (936) 560-7727
