A local bank and community college are showing real leadership through a program for assisting ex-cons.

Politically correct members of the community would call these folks “returning citizens,” and the Court-Assisted Re-Entry program, or CARE, attempts to help them get back on their feet, financially secure and less likely to commit crime again.

The program involves a federal judge, prosecutor, public defender and probation officers who help former inmates set and meet goals in their transition back to civilian life. Locally, court officials entered a partnership with ESSA Bank & Trust, which will offer money-management classes and loans of up to $15,000 that can be used for housing, transportation or education. But the bank’s money-management classes help, as does the commitment of Northampton Community College, which has agreed to offer education services, and Pyramid Healthcare, a drug treatment and counseling service that will assist ex-cons.

One current participant in the program is a convicted bank robber with poor credit — the last person a bank normally would consider for a loan. A former heroin addict, he’s now using the CARE program to close on a $12,000 loan that he will apply toward barber school. He’s thinking much farther ahead than he did when he was an addict looking for the next fix. He has already lined up a job for after he completes the course, and his ultimate goal is to operate his own barber shop.

Re-entry programs are risky, but not as risky as providing no support to people who leave prison with little more than the clothes on their back. Many former inmates have learned a valuable lesson, and have the capacity to become productive citizens — if someone lends a helping hand. ESSA Bank, NCC and Pyramid commendably recognize that and becoming active participants in the CARE program. Their contributions will give deserving ex-felons a helping hand when they need it most.

— Pocono Record