Article: Ex-cons help ex-cons ease into life on outside.(USA)

Byline: Alexandra Marks Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

HARLEM, N.Y. -- The optimistic glint in Julio Medina's dark brown eyes suddenly shifts to concern. He's just learned that one of his ex-offenders spent the night in jail after jumping a subway turnstile. "What were you thinking?" he asks, incredulously.

"I had to get to a job interview. I didn't have any money," explains a shaken Thomas "Kaseen" Johnson. "This lady, she gave me 45 cents, then says, 'Why don't you just push through with me?' So I did. Then I looked up and there was a cop."

It was a setback for Mr. Johnson, who is out on parole after serving 19 years in ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!