Males and Females ages 18 and older
Meets the 4th Thursday of each month 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
APDS @ 1409 E. Livingston Ave. Cols. (614) 253-4448

APDS is the host and lead collaborator that facilitates the APDS ‘Citizen Circle’ which is a group of community members, agencies, prison ministries committed to helping offenders make the change from “offender” to “productive citizen.”  The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction has embraced the needs related to offenders returning home from correctional settings and as such one strategy is the implementation of Citizen Circles.  Citizen Circles create partnerships that promote positive social interaction and accountability to help offenders become productive citizens.

Citizen Circles focus on eight dynamic domain areas:

1. Attitude - Supporting law-abiding behaviors and involvement with religious activities.Citizen Circles create partnerships that promote positive interaction and accountability for offenders upon release. Circle members address risks that contribute to criminal activity by taking ownership of the solution. It is an opportunity for citizens to communicate expectations for successful reentry and help offenders recognize the harm their behavior has caused others. Offenders are able to make amends and demonstrate their value and potential to the community,
2. Associates/Social Interactions - Positive interaction with community members and non-criminal associates with the opportunity for positive interaction with peers,
3. Substance Abuse - Living without reliance on alcohol and/or other drugs.
4. Employment - Work and the role of work in the person's life, including education and vocational skills; job search and interviewing skills
5. Education - Education and vocational skills desired;
6. Community Functioning - Knowledge and skills for daily living, including safety, an acceptable place to live, health, personal budgeting, leisure activities, and the use of social services;
7. Personal/Emotional Orientation - Decision-making, coping with stress, and practicing mental health and wellness activities.
8. Family/Marital - Being with family members and the support an offender derives from them.

Offenders develop relationships with members of the circle and together develop a plan to help the offender begin to behave as a productive person and citizen of their community. The Citizen Circle helps offenders understand being a positive community member demands responsibility and obligation. The Citizen Circle creates an environment fostering acceptance and focuses on offender’s personal strengths. A focus on the future rather than the past and giving back through community service and contributions are key elements for success. Offenders seek involvement with a Citizen Circle voluntarily.

For further information, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or contact Jerry Saunders, Sr. at (614) 253-4448.