Becky Hopwood knows first-hand how important it is to have a support system upon being released from prison. Hopwood spent three years in prison for cooking and selling meth, a crime which had not only led to the loss of her freedom but also to the loss of her children and her job.

In June 2006 Hopwood was released and went to the STAR (Successful Transition and Re-entry) Project office in Walla Walla. The STAR project gave her a mentor, the skills to get a job and the confidence to know she could succeed.

Hopwood remained active with the STAR Project and was an inspiration to many of the other clients. She is now director of the STAR Project, an organization that will cease to exist in June unless they receive more funding.

Hopwood is urgently seeking alternative sources of funding for this organization that has meant so much to her.

“The STAR Project has meant having a place that you can go when you feel like you’re excluded from society. A place to go where people believe in you until you believe in yourself,” said Hopwood.

Persons recently released from prison face strong discrimination and often feel overwhelmed by their new freedom. Without any support system or opportunities, it is all too easy to fall back to their criminal ways.

In Washington State 54 percent of those released from prison return to prison within two years. This high recidivism rate, as it is called, is troubling but not surprising.

The STAR Project aims to reduce this high recidivism rate by assisting persons to successfully transition from incarceration into the community. The STAR Project was established in May 2004 and currently has 54 active clients. Out of those 54 clients, they have only had three new felonies. This makes the STAR recidivism rate 5.6 percent, a huge reduction from the 54 percent recidivism rate for all of Washington State.

However, unless the STAR project finds a way to get more funding, they will soon cease to exist. In August 2005, STAR was awarded a two-year grant by the Donald and Virginia Sherwood Trust and hired its first executive director. This grant is set to end in June.

STAR has operated an institution-based program at the Washington State Penitentiary for people soon to be released to Walla Walla and Columbia counties since early 2004 and began a community-based program in Walla Walla for recently released people. In November, STAR began operating a Community Accountability Board for recently released people in partnership with the Department Of Corrections, Community Corrections Office in Walla Walla.

Hopwood believes that the community should want to support the STAR Project because by helping offenders, they increase community safety. She adds that many of the offenders have children and that these children greatly benefit from having their parents out of prison.

“If we can help someone then they’re not out there committing crimes. Even if we only helped one person in a whole month then it’s worth it, we’ve made a difference. The community safety part is just as important of reduction of recidivism,” said Hopwood.

The community also benefits monetarily if fewer people are returning to prison.

“Everyone pays taxes and a lot of these taxes go towards the prison. If less people are going to prison, it saves everyone money,” said Hopwood.

STAR volunteer coordinator Tami Olmstead thinks that the STAR Project is especially important in light of a new law that mandates that offenders must serve probation in the area in which they committed the crime.

“Say someone from Seattle commits a crime in Walla Walla. Then when they get out of prison they are stuck in Walla Walla without any family or friends,” said Olmstead.

The STAR Project has a number of counseling and training programs designed to help ease that transition. They also provide emergency housing as it is often hard for those with a felony on their record to secure housing.

“You’re released from prison and you feel like you have this big red flashing sign above your head that says ‘you’re just released from prison’ and everyone knows,” said Hopwood.
Another problem that many of their clients have is self-confidence.

“So you get out and its time to look for a job and you have to be confident and talk about good qualities but when you’re released you’re often not sure you have any,” said Hopwood.

The STAR Project provides counseling and mock interviews in order to prepare their clients for job applications. They also provide facilities such as a washer and dryer at the STAR Project office for their clients’ use.

“Sometimes they just need a place to hang out for a while during the day or use the shower or get some clothing we have clothing or do their laundry. Its just little things like that that you can’t necessarily get help for that can really make the difference in someone’s day,” said Olmstead.

The STAR Project would love for volunteers to mentor or work in the office. They would also greatly appreciate monetary donations. They will be holding a magic show at the Community College on April 20. as a fund-raiser.