Baltimore City District Judge Nicole Pastore-Klein will oversee the first graduation ceremony for ex-offenders who have found employment through the District Court Re-Entry Project (DCREP). The event is scheduled for March 9 at 12:30 p.m. in the Hargrove District Courthouse, Baltimore. Ray Lewis, a Super Bowl XXXV MVP and future NFL Hall of Famer, will deliver the keynote speech.
Judge Pastore-Klein expressed her commitment to aiding rehabilitated individuals by stating, “Baltimore is my home, and I wanted to help find a way for the court to help men and women who are rehabilitating their lives and who have successfully taken this step in completing the District Court’s Re-Entry Project.” She emphasized her unique position as a judge to refer defendants directly from the courtroom to work skills training programs.
The DCREP was introduced after months of research by Judge Pastore-Klein in September 2016. The program involves judges referring defendants to one of 13 participating organizations that provide workforce preparation and job placement assistance. Training spans from two weeks to a year across various fields such as renewable energy installation, automotive repair, construction, catering, and maritime transportation.
Ray Lewis shared his enthusiasm for supporting economic empowerment through this initiative: “My passion and my hope is to create opportunities for the people of the city I love. Economic empowerment is the key to rising above a life of struggle and crime.”
The DCREP allows criminal case defendants an opportunity for job training as part of probation conditions. Successful completion can lead to incentives like converting supervised probation into unsupervised or early termination of probation. Some defendants may also participate instead of serving minimal jail time.
Judge Pastore-Klein highlighted the program's impact on reducing recidivism: “By providing ex-offenders with job training and placement, the DCREP reduces recidivism and helps these individuals become productive members of society.”