Chief’s Corner
A RETROSPECTIVE VIEW By JUDGE LINDA L. NOBLES
On July 1, 2015, I assumed the position of Chief Judge of the First Judicial Circuit after having been elected by my colleagues. It was truly an honor to receive their trust and support.
Everything Outdoors: a lawn and landscaping service run by graduates and current participants in the Pathways for Change program to provide participants with a job and the opportunity to learn how to manage a business.
One of my first official duties was awarding the 2015 Chief Judge Award for Service at the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association’s Annual Installation Banquet. This year’s recipient was Connie Bookman, founder and CEO of Pathways for Change. It was my great privilege to make the following presentation:
The Clinton Cox Residence: a 12 bed transitional house, where men who are transitioning from substance abuse treatment back to society live sober, healthy lives while they learn self-sufficiency.
The Chief Judge’s Award for Service is awarded to recognize an individual who has gone above and beyond in service to the judicial system. This year’s recipient, Connie Bookman, exemplifies such service. In 1999, Mrs. Bookman became the executive director of the Christian Counseling Center. In that capacity, she was given the opportunity to work with female inmates in the Escambia County Jail. After interacting with the women, she realized that her plan of teaching classes and providing counseling was woefully deficient. It would not provide the foundation needed to recover from a life of crime and drugs. To provide a meaningful pathway for change, she would need to address the lack of education, employment, transportation, and child care, and a myriad of other obstacles so central in the lives of these women. After doing her research, she found a maximum security prison in Ohio that was utilizing a therapeutic community approach with its female inmates. Mrs. Bookman actually paid $1000 to spend a week as an inmate in that facility. At night, she was allowed to sleep in a nearby hotel, but in the day, she was a fully immersed inmate. It was from that experience that Pathways for Change, a faith based addictions treatment program and transition residence for men, was born. Pathways is an intense 18 month program. The men are up by 5:30 in the morning and have something productive to do until 9:30 at night. They take classes, participate in counseling, and work. They use the money they earn to pay off their court costs, fines and any restitution owed, stay current on any child support obligation, and save for their future. More than 300 men have completed the program, and Pathways boasts a 70% success (do not reoffend) rate. By way of information, the State Prison system has a 32% success rate. This year is Pathways for Change’s 10th anniversary, and in that time, it has transformed numerous lives and saved the taxpayers of Escambia County over $4.2 million dollars. But, for Mrs. Bookman, that was not enough. Over the years, she has expanded Pathways to include: 6 The Summation www.esrba.com September 2015
The Family Center: a facility where members of the public seeking change and a new direction in life are provided education, counseling, support groups, and child care. Some of the Family Center clients are women who, due to drug abuse or other acting out behaviors, have lost their infant to two year old children and are seeking reunification with their children through “Baby Court.” These women are offered skills that will not only help them become responsible, nurturing mothers, but will perhaps stop the cycle that may one day ensnare their children. Pathways to Success for Neighborhood Kids (grade 1-5): a program where children are exposed to a computer lab and daily tutoring to improve their education skills and school readiness. Pathways Academy: Pathways for Change became a post-secondary school last year and developed a program where clients can complete an Office Assistant Certification class. Participants learn skills such as Word, Excel, and Power Point. As you can see, Pathways for Change provides a continuum of care for men, women, and children. It is working, and it is making a difference. The mission of Pathways for Change and its founder and CEO is: Changing Lives, Reducing Crime, and Building Futures. It is one thing to have a vision; it is quite another to actually find a way to turn that vision into a successful reality. Mrs. Bookman has done precisely that. It is with my sincerest thanks and great pleasure that I present the 2015 Chief Judge’s Award for Service to Connie Bookman. I will accept nominations for the 2016 Chief Judge Award for Service through April 29, 2016. I encourage you to submit the name of any person you believe has exemplified and exceeded the high standard of integrity in the courts through service. The submission should be forwarded to Trial Court Administrator Robin Wright at Robin.Wright@flcourts1.gov.