Returning Citizens Initiative

National Recidivism Statistics

68%

within 3 years of release, two-thirds of released prisoners are re-arrested

77%

within 5 years of release, three-quarters of released prisoners are re-arrested

57%

of those prisoners who were re-arrested, more than half are re-arrested by the end of the first year

Program Consultants

NORM HILLS, LIAISON TO CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES

Norm Hills has 45 years experience in corrections working with both adult and juvenile populations. His experience and leadership in the industry has positioned him as a leading voice in corrections and inmate programs in the state of Ohio. He began his career as a social work intern at the Ohio State Reformatory where he later earned rank as the Deputy Warden. He was appointed the Chief Inspector of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. In 1986, he became the “activation” Warden for the Department, opening Pickaway Correctional Institution, Correctional Reception Center in 1987, Grafton Correctional Institution in 1988 and the Lorain Correctional Institution in 1989. In 1991 he was appointed as the North Regional Director, responsible for all aspects of operations for 16 of Ohio’s 31 prisons. Norm also served in Juvenile Corrections as Deputy Warden, Warden and Juvenile Parole Board Member. Norm is a native of Northern Ohio with a Bachelor of Arts Degree with majors in Sociology and Psychology from Ashland University.

JOHN DOWDELL, LIAISON TO CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES

John Dowdell recently retired the Director of the Gill Center for Business and Economic Education at Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio. John has over 35years of experience in correctional education and has been the editor of the Journal of Correctional Education for sixteen years. A member of the Correctional Education Association, John serves on the board of the organization and chairs the education and professional development committees of the board. He has published in the fields of correctional education and economic education and served on the steering committee for the RAND Corporation Second Chance Grant to evaluate education of juvenile and adult offenders. John is now the lead partner in Heartland Curriculum Consultants, LLC, and specializes in curriculum and development in the field of correctional education. As the director of Ashland University correctional programs, John led the nation’s longest operating correctional higher education program. John earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree and a Master of Education degree in curriculum and instruction at Ashland College. He completed doctoral coursework at the University of Akron.

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