"THE TIME IS CLOSE, NOW"

Jimmy received his final evaluation today, and by next week he should know which half-way house he will be placed in...Then, a few weeks after that, he will go to the half-way house.....and soon after that, he will have his first furlough home, which will be a 12 hour furlough....we are very excited, and already talking and planning that first furlough....!

  I am very happy that Jimmy is in a place such as "TALBOT HALL."....It is a wonderful place!...We are both blessed he is there!.....It is a place of healing and health, of purging out the old negativities, and replacing them with positive energy...............From the minute you walk up the steps into Talbot, which is a brick building, in Kearny, New Jersey...you feel a magical, spiritual feeling take over you!...It is hard to explain, but that is how it feels!...Positive energy infiltrates you, and you feel great!....As you enter the sparkling glass doors, you are then met by a wall of glass....immaculately clean and sparkling!....The nice scent of disinfectant in the air.....and the immaculate marble floor beneath your feet!..A beautiful plaque on the wall.....Everyone is so courteous. and helpful.....Everything is bright and cheerful!

  Talbot is run almost like a bootcamp....It is a place determined to make good productive citizens out of their residents.  Talbot houses around 500 men, and their rooms are in different sections, called "Harmony,"  "Tranquility," and "Serenity."  Each room has several men in it, in bunk beds, along with a phone in the room.

  FYI, New Jersey has approx. 30, 000 inmates in the prison system.  Our country has approx. 2 million, prisoners, and that includes women inmates.  New Jersey has a low rate of women prisoners....Women seem to get off easier when it comes to going to prison, in our country, so if you're going to commit a crime, it would be a better idea to be a woman...(just kidding!).......Thus, most prisoners are men......Our country alone, the USA, has more prisoners than all the "free world countries" combined....

  When we think of a prisoner, we normally dump them into the same category....but no, that's wrong.  There are 3 types of criminals....1.  Mass murders, killers, serial killers.  2. Thieft, robberies, drugs....things like that...   3.  White collar crimes....fraud, conspiracy,etc.....Doctors, lawyers, and people such as this fall into this category.  My husband, Jimmy, falls into the third category. 

  That was some info for you....a few stats......And now, for the New Jersey residents and taxpayers, I have some great news for you!...........Talbot Hall is a dream come true for the taxpayer....you are all getting more than your tax dollar!....And here is why....

  TALBOT HALL is a "CEC."  That is, a "COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTER."  It is run on the basis of "THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE." (Did you read the book?)   It is a program that  rebuilds prisoners and teaches them to become productive members of society. It is an 8 week program , where the resident is up at 6 am, and starts classes promptly at 8am...Each resident attends a schedule of classes, mostly hour -long, and then he is finally done at 9pm  It is no doubt a strict environment...Every moment is being used...there is no goofing off in a place like that...Also, there are lots of highly-effecient counselors  My husband works in the library, and also is giving hour-long , about management....according to the book, "the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People."   Jimmy just loves it!..Jimmy belongs to committees, and ran the talent show a few weeks ago.  Also, residents participate in sports activities outside on the premises. This type of program is usually run by top-notch corporations....it is a highly expensive program....costing , not hundreds, but tens of thousands of dollars.  These inmates are so lucky, to be part of this program, and I hope they are aware of it....

  If you get a chance, look it up on the web.....it is "the Chartered Management Institute,"  whose main office is in London.  I guess I'm getting carried away, a little here, but Jimmy and I find it very exciting, that a REHAB CENTER, should give such a magnificant program to people....Talbot Hall shoild be recognized as the wonderful and educational place it is!.......Like I said, the program is actually geared toward top business executives.  Jimmy tries to explain to the residents the beauty of this program.....

  Thank you, Dear Lord, for sending Jimmy to Talbot Hall.

..............................................FRAN