Breaking the prison pipeline,
one step at a time.
Director’s Letter
Change Through Empowerment
“You don’t get over an addiction by stopping using. You recover by creating a new life. Where it is easier to not use. If you don’t create a new life, then all the factors that brought you to your addiction will catch up with you again.” — Steven Melemis.
With the United States being the number one incarcerator of its citizens in the world the problem is obvious. The solution is also obvious, criminal justice reform. As crime rates fall and incarceration rates rise alternative answers to mass incarceration is a must.
The 1st Step Male Diversion Program is a substantial step to relieving our overcrowded prisons and returning sober, rehabilitated citizens to our communities.
1st Step takes motivated non-violent offenders and provides holistic support to the prison-bound non-violent offender allowing him to succeed in living a sober and productive life and eliminating a life of crime.
We’ve seen firsthand the difference 1st Step can make for our state and in young men’s lives. We are also committed to advancing our mission, and ask for your support to help us achieve this goal.
Whatever support you are able to provide, please know you are making a difference not only for our state, but for young men who otherwise would go to prison. Thanks to you, they are instead becoming better husbands, fathers, citizens, and men.
Sincerely,
David Phillips
