MEEHAN
>> YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE
IN YOU.
DON’T DISAPPOINT THEM.
>> IT WAS A MORNING OF POWERFUL
MESSAGES AS WELL AS THE
POSSIBILITY OF A BRIGHTER FUTURE
FOR 4 MEN AT SUFFOLK SUPERIO
COURT.
4 MEN WHO AT ONE TIME SAT IN A
SIMILAR COURTROOM AND WERE
CONVICTED OF A VARIETY OF STATE
LEVEL CRIMES.
[APPLAUSE]
TODAY, THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE
CHANGED THROUGH HARD WORK.
THE MEN ARE THE FIRST GRADUATES
THE COMMUNITY SERVINGS TEACHING
KITCHEN PROGRAM.
A 12-WEEK CULINARY ARTS JOB
TRAINING PROGRAM THAT PREPARES
INDIVIDUALS FOR EMPLOYMENT IN
THE FOOD INDUSTR
>> I AM VERY PROUD OF YOU GU
GRADUATING TODAY.
YOU HAVE MADE YOUR COMMUNITY
PROUD, YOU HAVE MADE YOURSELF
AND YOUR FAMILIES PROUD.
EVERY TIME YOU COOK A MEAL, YOU
ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR YOUR
LOVED ONES.
>> SUFFOLK SUPERIOR COURT
JUSTICE ROBERT TOCHKA INTRODUCED
THE PROGRAM.
HE AND BOSTON POLICE
COMMISSIONER WILLIAM GROSS HAVE
BEEN WORKING TOGETHER SINCE 1985
TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES TO
SIMPLY LOCKING SOMEONE UP AND
TOSSING AWAY THE KEYS.
>> TO BE A MORE PRODUCTIVE
CITIZEN IT’S INCUMBENT UPON IS
TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT SECOND
CHANCES AND THAT’S WHAT WAS DONE
HERE TODAY WITH 4 INDIVIDUALS
THAT GRADUATED.
>> I’M GLAD I GOT A SECOND
CHANCE.
I’M HOPEFUL THAT ANYONE WHO SEES
THIS RIGHT NOW TODAY WILL
DEFINITELY TAKE THE INITIATIVE
TO COME THROUGH AND TRY TO GET A
SECOND CHANCE AND CHANGE THEIR
LIVES.
>> IN ADDITION TO THE JOB
TRAINING THERE IS ANOTHER
INCENTIVE TO COMPLETE THE
PROGRAM.
ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS THE MEN
CAN EARN A REDUCED TIME ON
PROBATION BY UP TO ONE YEAR.
IN BOSTON, DOUG MEEHAN WCVB NE
