Orin Perry, chairman of the Halifax and Northampton Local Reentry Council was honored today with a plaque presented by Halifax County Economic Development Director Cathy Scott.

The presentation was made following a graduation ceremony in Jackson for those who completed the program. Attendees also celebrated Perry’s birthday.

“I have the opportunity today to make a special presentation that is really long overdue for this reentry council,” Scott said. “We want to give you a special presentation as a token of appreciation from all of us for what you’ve done to keep everybody in the process. The prize is what you see here today — these people getting a second chance.”

Scott read the plaque, which says, “In recognition of exemplary leadership and unwavering dedication to the Halifax and Northampton Reentry Council. Your enduring commitment has made a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of others and the betterment of our communities. With gratitude from the board and staff of the Halifax and Northampton Local Reentry Council.”

Perry, touched by the presentation, said, “I didn’t expect that at all. I do what I do because I know what it is to be them and I know what it is to need a second chance — somebody to believe in you.”

Perry said he has always wanted to be a conduit of support and showing people “that you can.”

Some of Perry’s schoolmates were graduates of today’s program, he said, and as a teacher some of them were his students.

It is important, he said, to give those seeking to go through the program support “because life is worth living for when we learn to invest in people. The greatest gift you can give anybody is the chance you never got.”

The council continues to speak to legislators and members of Congress about the program. “We have conversations about the impact so they can take back a good report.”

The program is needed, Perry said. “With the caseload of nearly 15,000 to 16,000 cases in Halifax alone, that is more than the population of Roanoke Rapids. We need this and we are advocating and fighting. I’m assured, as long as I have breath in my body and I have a good mind — I’m going to fight for us.”

The need for reentry comes at a time when public housing has been cut to 24 months and there are attempts to cut Section 8 housing to 24 months, Perry said. “We are already are seeing a homeless crisis in our community.”

There are attempts to get emergency funding and vouchers to house people. “We’re trying to get people to be able to maneuver the hardships. If you can’t do anything else, if you can’t give a dime to a cause — at least give someone a chance.”

In his remarks earlier in the ceremony, Perry said just this month there have been 35 referrals from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction. “We have 52 men that we’ve been working with as well as 10 women.”

There are nine active clients in Northampton County and 53 active clients in Halifax County. “We’ve had three referrals from the courthouse.”

The district attorney and the public defenders offices have worked on a pilot program, he said. “It is the first in the history of our counties that we have the DAs office as well as the public defender’s office at the same table.”

In five months, the reentry program has realized a savings of $1,550,000. “It makes sense — our savings per diverted client. With the 62 we have that’s $25,000 per client … At this current juncture the average we’re saving in Halifax County is $2,600 so every time someone’s incarcerated (the cost to the taxpayers) is $2,600.”

As it stands now, the reentry has had a success rate of 99 percent employment, he said.