Circles participants tell their stories

Quinn Johnson is a friendly man--cordial and easy to talk with, but Quinn wasn't always like that.

"I've learned to be sociable because a lot of times I'd sit and think-I'm an intelligent person-and I got skills and all those other areas," said Johnson. "But when I finally decided to be a responsible individual-try to be a responsible individual-I learned I was lacking a lot of social skills."

Quinn will tell you he's learned a lot in the past year and a half... in fact he's turning over a new leaf... after a life spent mostly behind bars.

"I've had six felony convictions in over 35 cumulative years in prison on and off," Johnson said. "I got out 18 months ago on parole."

Quinn has spent more than half of his life in prison for a myriad of convictions dating back to when he was just 16 years old.

"Selling drugs, 20 years ago--armed robbery, car theft, burglary-you name it!" said Johnson.

An opportunity to change his ways came to light after his release in May of 2007. Quinn's parole officer told him about a program called "Circles of Support."

"When I first went, it was just to appease my P.O.," Johnson said. "And to comply because I made up my mind. I'm going to comply with whatever they ask me to do from now on whether I believe in it or not."

The Circles Program - supported by Goodwill Industries - helps convicted felons like Quinn - rebuild their lives--by assisting with the transition from prison back into the community.

"We try to develop with them what we call a plan of success so they know what their short term goals are in order to be successful in the community," said Jim Miller, a volunteer with the program.

Participating offenders meet either in a weekly group or one on one with volunteer facilitators--like Miller--who assist them by offering suggestions, guidance, advice and resources.

"We're able to facilitate those contacts in terms of helping provide the concrete needs they often have to have food, shelter, employment, medical needs, so we facilitate those community resources for these people," said Miller.

"It helps because there is so much that goes into every day life that I sat in prison-I didn't have to do - I got fed, clothed--I got took care of, so get out here now and have to for myself-so it's a learning system," Johnson said.

A learning system-that's helped Quinn find focus in life.

"Since I've been out here-I've been working constantly and everything has been good--opposed to in the past when I tried it my way-with my best effort-all it ever got me was back in trouble-on drugs, alcohol," Johnson said.

"I'm Kathy, and I was released from prison on June 24th..." Kathy Johnson-a smiling, cheerful college educated woman with a long career in management - has had a long history with alcohol. Kathy has six drunken driving tickets. Two of them are felonies.