3 days ago
DMV Doers: DC man works around the clock helping ex-offenders become successful in society
WASHINGTON () — James Carpenter spent 24 years in federal prison after he was convicted of second-degree murder when he was 17. He never imagined helping others if he became a free man.
Carpenter was approached by the founders of the non-profit, Neighbors for Justice, after he was released from prison, and he has never looked back since.
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Neighbors for Justice started during the pandemic, helping those inside the D.C. Jail. There were major concerns about the living conditions while COVID-19 was spreading, so Carpenter and his colleagues brought their concerns to the District Council and other leaders.
'We were trying to be a good neighbor,' Carpenter said. 'They were going through a lockdown, and we heard the conditions were horrific, so we offered as much support as we could.'
Neighbors for Justice focuses on advocacy for those still behind bars and for the men and women who served their time and our now back in society.
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Carpenter knows the challenges, and he is making sure others maximize their opportunity.
'We definitely want them to feel like their back is not against the wall and that their options aren't limited, so they won't go back to the streets,' he said. 'We want to expand their choices by helping them get workforce development and tech skills and stuff like that.'
Carpenter also serves as a mentor to teenagers and young children during his spare time.
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