Clearwater, FL – June 19, once Freedom Day now Juneteenth, marks the day in 1865 when a quarter million enslaved African Americans finally learned they were freed. But Criminon Florida is reflecting on the unfortunate statistic of today – over one million African Americans are incarcerated, enslaved by crime and trapped in a system that no longer believes in rehabilitation. That is why Criminon Florida, located in downtown Clearwater, is inviting the community to tour its facility and find out how Criminon is rehabilitating criminal offenders and reducing recidivism.



American author and humanitarian, L. Ron Hubbard, wrote: “There is no person alive who cannot make a new beginning.”



Those words formed the inspiration for the Criminon program. Criminon, meaning “no crime”, is an international, social betterment corporation providing crime prevention and criminal rehabilitation programs for offenders. Originally established in New Zealand in 1972, Criminon has expanded to a worldwide network of organizations. Criminon Florida’s headquarters is right here in Clearwater.



Today, over one hundred Criminon Florida volunteers are leading a grass-roots effort among the incarcerated in over 360 prisons worldwide, more than 100 in Florida alone. At Criminon’s Clearwater Center, the volunteers manage free correspondence courses taken by inmates. The inmates also express their achievements and successes.



One prisoner, Daniel E. recently wrote, “I have experienced an environment that is hard to describe. But with this [Criminon] course I have come to enjoy a priceless happiness that I never knew existed.”



For more information on how to get the program to someone you know, and to tour the Criminon Florida Center at 45 N Fort Harrison Avenue in downtown Clearwater, you can call 727-467-6963 or email [email protected].