Pasco County: Breaking the Cycle

0:00In Tampa Bay today, March 4, in Pasco County, Florida, a volunteer-led program is fighting the cycle of crime and drug addiction by supporting people right after they leave jail. The enracidivism project Xtreme, run by Julia Paul's, connects folks with housing, jobs, and basic needs to help them rebuild their lives and avoid. Going back, the group offers hands-on help for just about anything, from finding steady work to starting small businesses with tools like lawn mowers. Paul's calls those they assist, returning citizens, not criminals, and focuses on giving them encouragement to break the repeat offender pattern. One young man described the struggle of starting over, without connections or resources, facing rejection from employers and landlords due to his record. Meanwhile, Daniel Dillard, who beat his own long criminal history, now mentors at risk youth through his Ryza program, checking in on school, and positive activities. A recent study found that more than 40 percent of inmates released from Pasco County

1:00jail end up returning. Advocates points in limited funding for rehab programs, as a big reason why. Paul's has aided over 600 people since starting the project. Supporters say donations keep it going, but real change comes from community involvement and shifting how we see those rebuilding their lives. This episode is supported by our sponsor, C Details in the Description. A pillow that sounds as good as it feels, built for listening and bed. S-O-L-L-S-O-L-L-L-S-O-L-P-L-O, dot com.