Project Return provides a broad range of assistance and support to anyone with a juvenile or criminal record, aid in the transition from incarceration to the community to ensure a chance for success, and education to the community and clients that offenders are human beings first and offenders secondly.
Vision Statement
The agency’s vision is “to stop the waste of an ex-offender’s lifetime and eliminate that cost to society.”
Our clients have statistically proven to be one-third less likely to recidivate than their counterparts who do not request the agency’s services. The agency further benefits Nashville and surrounding communities by (1) relieving Tennessee’s overcrowded prison system, (2) saving tax dollars used to re-incarcerate criminal recidivists, (3) preventing new crimes, and (4) contributing to the overall economic condition of the community by the entrance of new wage earners. Benefits total over $72,200 per year for each ex-offender who succeeds in staying out of prison: $5,000 in reduced property and victimization costs; $7,300 in reduced arrests and prosecution costs; $23,000 in unspent incarceration fees; $4,800 in reduced health care costs, and $32,100 in lost economic benefits to society.
Underemployment or joblessness can trigger a downward spiral for the ex-offender, cycling him or her back into the prison system. In seeking employment for its clients -- and understanding that underemployment or joblessness can trigger a downward spiral for the ex-offender, cycling him or her back into the prison system -- the agency makes potential employers aware that the U.S. Department of Labor has a innovative Federal Bonding Program that will also help former offenders overcome barriers to joining the workforce by providing insurance policies to businesses to protect them in case of loss money or property as a result of employee dishonesty. Employers may also receive special tax incentives for each former offender that they employ.
History of Project Return
Project Return is a Community-Inspired Tradition
Founded in 1979 by Five Area Ministers
Agency is a 501 (c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
Served Over 4000 Clients in Calendar Year
2006
Serves Nashville & Surrounding Middle
TN Area
Pre-Release Programs
Survival Skills for Men Workshops @ 4 Men’s
Correctional Facilities
Pre-release Class for Women @ the
TN Prison for Women in Nashville
Project Success: Youth Program @ 3 Nashville
Juvenile Facilities
Job Readiness Classes @ 2 Metro Nashville
County Jails
Post-Release Services
Housing Referrals
Emergency Food Boxes
Purchasing and Providing Work Tools
Transportation: Metro Nashville Transit Bus
Passes
Clothing Referrals (i.e., Salvation Army,
Dress for Success)
Medical Referrals (i.e., Substance Abuse,
Mental Health, etc.)
Securing Birth Certificates, ID Cards, and
Social Security Cards
Programs
"Bridge to the Future"
"GED/Adult Literacy Program"
"Jobs & Futures"
"Project Success"
"The Legacy Program"
Statement of Inclusiveness
It is the policy and practice of Project Return
to provide equal opportunities to clients, employees
and applicants for employment. No person will
be discriminated against because of race, religion,
creed, color, sex, age, national origin, veteran
status or disability.
Why Do We Exist?
To stop the waste of an ex-offender’s
lifetime and eliminate that cost to society.
