Citizens for Criminal Justice Reform – New Hampshire

Why did we dedicate 13 years to volunteer work advocating for prison and legal reform? For many of us, the reasons somewhat varied, but we all shared a common motivator: we had been affected by the criminal justice system in one way or another.

In September 2010, Chris Dornin met with Phil Horner and me at a local Friendly’s Restaurant to discuss starting an organization dedicated to reforming the sex offender registry. Our goal was to stand in the gap and become a voice for those who are often voiceless: inmates and their families.
 
By January 2011, we had found a few more interested volunteers, and the following Founding Members: Chris Dornin, Jeremy Olson, Peter Bearse, Marjorie Mann, Philip Horner, Susan Nagelsen, Michael Sheehan, Jean Metzger and I were ready to sign the Articles of Incorporation.

We joined forces to establish Citizens for Criminal Justice Reform as a charitable nonprofit organization. Jean Metzger was perhaps the most noteworthy founder. She had conducted well-attended worship services every week in the prison chapel and worked with Prison Fellowship in prison programs, until her mid-nineties. Jean had a real heart for the men in Prison.  I got to know Jean well, and it was she who included me in the rotation of ministers to preach at the Saturday evening prison chapel services. We saw many inmates seeking Christ and dedicating their lives to Him.

In prison, any legitimate or life-changing therapy must help offenders understand that their crime is a behavior, not an intrinsic aspect of their identity. Many so-called therapy modules are shame-based and, in my opinion, do little to help and are often destructive.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychotherapy, Humanistic, Psychodynamic, and other behavioral therapies can be immensely helpful depending on the therapist. These types of therapy address the root causes of thoughts, feelings, emotions, and behaviors.
 
Secular therapy, or non-religious counseling, typically focuses on evidence-based treatments and techniques to address mental health and other common issues. This approach should rely on science, psychology, and research to provide the best possible care. A secular counselor hopefully works with you to identify your individual needs and establish attainable goals through talk therapy and psychological interventions. There is often great benefit from a truly qualified and caring secular counselor, for all truth flows from the Source of Truth (John 14:6). I always advised inmates "take the meat and discard the bones"—and there will be bones!

Secular therapy may guide you toward a higher power, not necessarily God, but it does not emphasize sin, repentance, salvation, forgiveness, deliverance, adoption, or the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.

In conjunction with secular therapy, chapel services and Christian volunteers bring a message of hope to men and women who have been told, and often believe, that they are monsters or, at the very least, worthless. The Good News is that "God has shown us how much he loves us—it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!" (Romans 5:8). Salvation deals with the inner man, cleansing and delivering us from sin, and gives us the strength and power to resist temptation and actually not sin. Salvation through Christ transforms a person by renewing their minds and hearts. Romans 12: 2.

It's essential for counselees, inmate or not, to embrace the belief that they are worthy, that they can receive help, that redemption and change is attainable, and that the past doesn't have to dictate their future. Without this belief, our collective prospects are bleak.

Our founder, Chris Dornin believed in the power of God to change lives.  He was a former prison counselor and a Christian prison volunteer.  He served as the inaugural board chairman from January 2011 to February 2012, while I served as vice-chair and then later he took on the role of leading the Legislative sub committee, while I assumed the role of chairman.  As LPC chair, he regularly engaged with legislators and spoke at various committees at the State House. As Chris encountered age-related challenges, he relinquished his position on the board in May of 2019, and our late friend Tom Adams assumed the role of Legislative Committee Chair. You can find Tom's obituary here: TOM ADAMS
 
Since 2010 all of us recognized a pressing need for a new charitable agency that would advocate for the voiceless, both inside and outside prison walls. We set out to champion prison reform at the NH State House, forge connections with similar nonprofit programs, and devise effective strategies to support prisoners, parolees, and their families.
 
During our first eight years, I eagerly devoted 25-40 hours or more each week to volunteer work. My primary focus was on organizing and developing our organization, creating our pamphlet and business stationery, developing our website pages, and writing job descriptions and policies, and numerous other tasks. I also managed mail and phone inquiries, which could be dozens each week. Far from being burdensome, I found this work fulfilling and was grateful for the chance to utilize my skills.
 
My wife and I have hosted Christmas gatherings for former inmates and wives and barbecues for our members. While Jean's tenure was brief, for Chris, Phil, our wives, and myself, CCJR was more than an organization—it was a calling, akin to a ministry. Over the past 13 years, we've had the privilege of positively impacting and assisting many lives.
 
Following the passing of our daughter in 2016 and assuming guardianship of our two young grandchildren, I temporarily resigned from my position as chairman. For about a year, I served as vice-chair. When I resumed the chairmanship in 2017, balancing my new family responsibilities made it difficult to maintain the same level of dedication.
 
Despite having up to 17 board members and over 450 members at one point, only a few of us consistently shouldered the workload. This is often true of any volunteer organization.  As described in our public statement, during the last three years, we've faced a significant decline in volunteers, making it increasingly difficult to fill roles or even maintain a quorum on the board. 

By 2020, many of us were tired and well into our senior years. Then COVID hit, compounding our challenges. This struggle is detailed in the Public Statement on Dissolution above. The last four years were particularly difficult, with little to no progress being made. Few were able to invest time or talent in the organization.

Without the unwavering dedication of passionate, committed, and selfless volunteers, our organization grounded to a halt. Legislative advocacy fell by the wayside. Our website and social media platforms remained void of timely updates on critical matters. The essential newsletters like this, connecting us with both incarcerated individuals and our members, gathered dust. Inquiries and correspondence from all corners of the nation went unanswered. Fundraising efforts withered away, and our endeavors to cultivate relationships with New Hampshire State legislators vanished. Moreover, the prospect of hosting rallies, annual meetings, and cherished events like our annual BBQ, which are instrumental in nurturing a thriving membership, faded into oblivion. Those were just the facts.

In August of 2021 our Newsletter and website detailed our struggle asking if we were at a juncture or the terminus for our organization.  The question, "Where do we go from here?" was posed and included the following plea for help:
AUGUST 2021: The facts are simple.  We need additional board members and we need active and committed volunteers who are willing to donate time by serving on one of our committees.

One person of the more than 470 newsletter recipients responded.

By the time 2024 came around the majority of us felt it was essential to acknowledge that our current readiness fell short, and we were not capable of sustaining our efforts.

In all fairness, in the midnight hour, two current board members advocated for keeping the organization going, even if it meant remaining inactive for months. Initially, we followed this approach. They found a few potential candidates willing to serve as board members. However, for various reasons, the majority of us—both seasoned and new board members—felt it was time to lay CCJR down. Moreover, we wanted to ensure the protection of our strong and positive reputation with both the State House and the New Hampshire Department of Corrections by closing the organization in its current form, thus preserving our commendable track record and reputation.

Over the last 13 years, it has been my pleasure to work with some amazing volunteers who served in key roles. Many of them wore several hats, taking on numerous responsibilities too numerous to list.

The Following People Agreed to Come on Board to Assist in Dissolution Process:

While we won't operate as an official organization, a small group of us may still be available to provide assistance or guidance to those dealing with incarceration or reintegration challenges. We may also be able to direct you to other groups or individuals who can provide support. Although our phone line will be inactive late June and our post office box will become inactive on July 30, 2024, you can still reach out to us via the email chair@ccjrnh.org, info@ccjrnh.org or SACC@ShepherdsAcademy.org. Please keep us informed about any national events, laws, and developments in New Hampshire prisons and throughout the state and we will post anything news worthy to our website.

Many thanks to all those who served and supported us,
Dr. Bob