Ex-offender trains inmates, professionals on reentry program

U.S. Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the CNMI Alicia Limtiaco, extreme right, and ex-offender and book author Michael G. Santos, extreme left, pose for a photo with some participants in the training on reentry program at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe yesterday. Santos also trained selected inmates at the Department of Corrections in Susupe to be peer trainers on the program. (Ferdie de la Torre)

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, in collaboration with Diverse Community Outreach Coalition, yesterday worked with Michael G. Santos, an ex-offender and author of a book called “Earning Freedom: Conquering a 45-Year Prison Term,” in training selected inmates to be trainers or facilitators about the reentry program.

U.S. Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the CNMI Alicia Limtiaco, in an interview, said they spent several hours at the Department of Corrections in Susupe yesterday morning, where Santos, who had served 26 years out of a 45-year federal correction institutions in the U.S. mainland, spoke with inmates about the importance of being prepared in reentering society, about authenticity, about changing behavior, and how to be productive and successful members of the community, among other things.

Limtiaco said Santos also met with selected inmates and trained them to be peer facilitators for the reentry program.

Limtiaco said after the DOC training, they then had training at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe with various agencies and organizations—both government and non-profit—who will also be either trainers or facilitators of this reentry program because they will work directly within or associated with the criminal and juvenile justice system.

She said the participants were court and health professionals, correctional staff, and representatives from non-profit organizations.

“This is a one-community CNMI effort. And having various sectors of our community coming together are very, very important,” Limtiaco said.

She said all of the trainings are part of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office Smart on Crime Initiative that really speaks to finding effective and productive and evidence based programs that truly will provide a network of support to assist individuals who are completing their terms of incarceration.

Limtiaco said the goal is for the inmates to be able to reenter society and not be in a position to make wrong decisions later in life as they struggle, that they can continue to be productive members.

“At the same time it’s a prevention effort because we are looking at helping those that are a risk especially our youths,” she added.