Nonprofit helps Virginia maintain lowest recidivism rate
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Over the past 14 years, Richard Walker went from dodging incarceration to running a volunteer organization aimed at helping other ex-offenders stay clean and out of prison. The efforts of groups like his are one reason Virginia has the nation's lowest recidivism — or reoffense — rate for former inmates, state officials say.
The story of Bridging the Gap in Virginia began more than a decade ago.
"I had a substance abuse problem back then; this was in 2004," Walker said. "I was a fugitive of justice from Henrico County. They arrested me at 2 o'clock in the morning, and I'm hitting golf balls into a quarry in Prince George County after being on a two-day crack binge.