December 15, 2009
Jail Release Just the Starte of One Man's Road to Redemption
The Huffington Post's Victoria Fine features Safer Foundation client Norris Cooper as part of their 12 Days, 12 Cities, 12 Families holiday giving campaign.
After serving two and a half years in jail for possession, Norris Cooper had a decision to make. It was December of last year, Christmas was right around the corner, and all Cooper wanted to do was go home and celebrate the holiday with his family. But coming home also meant going back to his old westside Chicago neighborhood, his old friends and his old ways.
“I had to make the decision to do something I had never done before,” the 48-year-old explained. “Change my lifestyle, do something different that would work this time.”
It had been a long time since Cooper had ruled his own life. First, his drug addiction had taken him over and set the tempo for an increasingly strained relationship with his family. Then, in jail, his daily life was dictated by guards and routine. He’d had enough time to atone for his crimes, to make the decision to return home a changed man. But part of him wasn’t sure if he was any different, or if he could be, without help.
After serving two and a half years in jail for possession, Norris Cooper had a decision to make. It was December of last year, Christmas was right around the corner, and all Cooper wanted to do was go home and celebrate the holiday with his family. But coming home also meant going back to his old westside Chicago neighborhood, his old friends and his old ways.
“I had to make the decision to do something I had never done before,” the 48-year-old explained. “Change my lifestyle, do something different that would work this time.”
It had been a long time since Cooper had ruled his own life. First, his drug addiction had taken him over and set the tempo for an increasingly strained relationship with his family. Then, in jail, his daily life was dictated by guards and routine. He’d had enough time to atone for his crimes, to make the decision to return home a changed man. But part of him wasn’t sure if he was any different, or if he could be, without help.
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