Fourteen times Shawn Reilly walked out of Lancaster County Prison thinking it would be the last time.

Fourteen times he was wrong.

On March 30, after serving six months for public intoxication, Reilly, 43, walked out a 15th time.

And this time, Reilly vows, it's going to be different.

Even though his record, starting at age 19, does not inspire confidence, Reilly, slight and soft-spoken, says he's through with drinking and the poor judgment that came with his dependency on the bottle.

Reilly, of course, has said the same thing many times before. But this time two things are in his favor.

First, Reilly, a longtime house painter, said he is committed to sobriety through a newfound God-centered life.

"I'm not the person I was," said Reilly, a four-time DUI offender.

Second, Reilly came out of prison with community support unlike any he has ever had.

Challenging transitions

Reilly is a participant in a demonstration project for Lancaster's Re-entry Management Council, a coalition of agencies working to reduce recidivism.

The state-funded project seeks to show that people are less likely to re-offend if they come out of prison with a plan and with help in finding a home, work and supportive services.

President Barack Obama is seeking $109 million for prisoner re-entry programs in next year's budget, and the re-entry council plans to apply. "What we do here is on target with those (funding) proposals," Scott Sheely, council chair, said.

To date, 17 offenders have entered the program, which ends in June. A few have already violated parole or gotten into trouble.

Reilly, whose longest incarceration was 8 and a half months, is not surprised. He knows how hard it is to turn one's life around. Inmates are "broken off from society," he said, "and you have to pick up the pieces."

What was different for Reilly upon his release a half-month ago was knowing Steve Morris, director of Transition to Community, was waiting to help.

Participants in the demonstration project choose from a number of agencies to coordinate their re-entry, and Reilly chose TTC, a faith-based organization at 39 W. Vine St. with a mission of reintegrating offenders into society. He said Morris met with him in prison and gave him hope.

Starting over

In the weeks before Reilly left prison, a pre-release officer assessed his needs, from housing to substance-abuse treatment, and Reilly agreed to a plan.

On leaving prison, Reilly walked the seven blocks to TTC. He had no savings and no car, having had his license revoked years ago. He wore the clothes he had when he entered prison and carried a bag with his Bible studies.

Reilly arrived looking stressed, which Morris said is to be expected.

"You'd think they'd have a feeling of freedom, having left a 6-by-8 cell," Morris said. Instead, newly released offenders feel the burden of figuring out how to support themselves while paying fines and restitution.

Recovering addicts, in particular, often have strained family relationships and need a support system, Morris said.

What TTC is offering Reilly is 90 days lodging in a transitional home for five men, regular counseling and daily accountability.

Reilly also is taking classes at the CareerLink office and would like to train to be a cabinetmaker.

"It's a new beginning," said Reilly, grateful Re-entry Management took a chance on him. "I'm certainly not here to waste anybody's time, but to move forward."

E-mail: jhawkes@lnpnews.com