A "Community Response to Heroin" meeting was held April 14 in response to discussions that began at the 2011 STAR Summit. The community meeting addressed the current reality concerning the alarming rise in the use of heroin throughout the St. Louis region and its impact on the community and reentry efforts.

An Offender Reentry and Substance Abuse White Paper has also been released by STAR. STAR's first white paper examines the issue of offender reentry and substance abuse and was co-authored by Chris Deason, Center for Women in Transition; Cynthia Hygrade, Missouri Board of Probation & Parole; Madeline Adams, St. Louis Healthy Marriage Coalition; and Karen Jones, Missouri Dept. of Social Services, Missouri Children's Division with support from additional members of STAR's "Research and Filed Building" subcommittee.

Saint Louis University School of Law, in collaboration with the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), the United States Probation Office for the Eastern District of Missouri and the Saint Louis University School of Law Black Law Students’ Association, will host the conference “Offender Reentry: The Challenges for Law Enforcement and the Community” from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20 in the Busch Student Center at Saint Louis University.

“Through this event, it is our goal to help articulate the mission of law enforcement in reentry in the context of the challenges facing both law enforcement and the community into which offenders return,” said Professor Eric Miller, Saint Louis University School of Law.  “In particular, the conference seeks to develop an understanding of the need for law enforcement and community to collaborate on reentry, and to propose methods of collaboration or identify what works in developing reentry programs.”

The conference brings together an impressive group of speakers from community organizations, law enforcement, academia and the judiciary, who will address issues from the local, regional and national perspectives. 

"The United States has 5 percent of the world's population, yet more than 20 percent of the total incarceration, and 97 percent will eventually be released to the community,” said Chief U.S. Probation Officer, Doug Burris, Eastern District of Missouri.  “The reentry conference organized by Saint Louis University School of Law will build reentry partnerships in our community.”

Interested attendees should register HERE.

The St. Louis Alliance for Reentry (STAR) Summit was held March 15 at St. Louis Community College - Florissant Valley, featuring several breakout/training sessions and key area speakers involved in the reentry process.

Over 275 people were in attendance for the Summit, which focused on efforts to assist Missouri's ex-prisoners in their efforts to return to their families, secure jobs, and avoid returning to lives of crime. The recent documented rise in heroin use in the region by ex-offenders and the general population was discussed.

Speakers for the event included ARCHS' Chief Executive Officer Wendell E. Kimbrough, St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, St. Louis Director of Human Services William Siedhoff, Missouri Economic Research and Information Center Analyst Mike Muin, Missouri Department of Corrections Director George Lombardi, and more.

The Summit was hosted by ARCHS, Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis, Missouri Department of Corrections, St. Louis Community College, St. Louis City, and St. Louis County.

The Crime Victim Advocacy Center of St. Louis will host a Trivia Night on Saturday, April 16 at Cardinal Ritter High School (701 North Spring Avenue, St. Louis 63108). Doors open at 6 p.m. and questions will begin at 7 p.m.

Cost is $160 per table, and each table sits eight people. Pre-paid tables will receive eight free 50/50 raffle tickets at registration. The event will also feature attendance prizes, a silent auction, and more.

To register or for questions, contact Jennifer Myrick at (314) 877-1176 ext. 279. All proceeds to benefit the Crime Victim Advocacy Center.