Next Door program offers hope

Hope is apparent in Angela Miller’s eyes.

The 33-year-old woman’s voice trembles with emotion as she tells her story of a morphine addiction that led her down a path of crime, resulting in what is now her second prison stint in Tennessee.

But on June 29, she will get a fresh start. A new chance.

Clad in a neat, simple neutral-colored dress, she talked Wednesday about looking for an apartment, hoping to earn a bachelor’s degree and continuing to work on relationships with family members.

She’s one of 16 women in a transitional program — The Next Door Inc. — who shared her story with state and federal officials during an open house Wednesday celebrating the nonprofit’s two centers, a residential transition center and correctional release center.

U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. was one of the guests visiting the facility and meeting with the women.

“We’re looking forward to the hope and healing this release center will provide,” he said.

He turned to Miller and 26-year-old Laticka Burgins, two women who shared their stories.

“You can make it. I can see that and feel that,” he told them.

Holder characterized the program as taking a “comprehensive approach” to prepare women to re-enter society, a program that can be replicated in other states. The Chattanooga center opened its doors in June 2010.

The odds of the women committing another crime are drastically reduced after going through the six-month program that includes individual and group counseling, case management and job skills and support. Recidivism rates go from 53 percent without a transitional program down to 14 percent at the Next Door, said Jason Rogers, Next Door board chairman.

Miller said it’s challenging for prisoners to reintegrate into society on their own.

“When you get out of prison, most people don’t have anything. You do what you know. Trying to live a different life — that’s unfamiliar and that’s scary,” she said. “So even though you know it’s bad, you tend to go back to what you are familiar with even though it’s wrong for you.”

More than 45 percent of the crimes committed by women in the Tennessee prison system take place in east Tennessee, said Linda Leathers, chief executive officer of The Next Door Inc.

Most men and women who are incarcerated — 97 percent — will be released at some point, Leathers said, making the argument for transition programs.

“We will see a decrease in the recidivism rate,” Leathers said. “We will see a decrease in the number of victims. We will see an increase in stronger families. We will see an increase in recovering women. We will see an increase of taxpaying members of society. ... We all win.”

Running the facility costs about $600,000 annually, with 60 percent from government funding and 40 percent privately funded through donors and foundations.

Miller said she committed aggravated burglary in Knoxville, receiving 12 months and, while on parole, was arrested on felony theft charges, earning her two more years.

“When I got out the first time I just went home to my mom’s house and relapsed after 90 days of being out because the pressure of re-entering society — it’s massive. I needed some support. I didn’t know that then, until the second time.

“This has given me the support, tools and love that I needed,” said Miller, who plans to stay in Chattanooga. “They helped me find a job, which is hard when you have a felony conviction.”