Gov. Rick Snyder signs criminal justice reform bills
KALAMAZOO, MI — Gov. Rick Snyder signed a bipartisan package of bills into law Thursday to make reforms to the state’s criminal justice system. The 18-bill package, spearheaded by Sen. John Proos (R-St. Joseph), aims to stop recidivism and updates parole and probation policies. Snyder said the law isn’t about being hard or...
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KPEP Coffee Shop
KPEP recently held a grand opening for their new coffee shop, Walnut & Park. KPEP is a residential program for people on probation and parole. William DeBoer, President/CEO of KPEP, says, “The goal is to take people who might otherwise be going to prison and help them stay out of prison, or people who are
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Walnut & Park coffee shop to open in downtown Kalamazoo
KALAMAZOO, MI — Walnut & Park is the name of a new coffee shop and cafe that is set to open Monday, March 6, in downtown Kalamazoo. Located at 322 W. Walnut St. (the corner of Walnut & Park), the business is a project of the Kalamazoo Probation Enhancement Program and will put to work
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Kalamazoo café offers ex-offenders a second chance
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — A West Michigan agency is offering ex-offenders a chance to build their resume so they can move forward. Walnut & Park Café is the latest addition to the Kalamazoo Probation Enhancement Program’s (KPEP) culinary arts vocational service. Parolees and people on probation will staff the coffee shop. “A lot of...
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Ex-offender vocational program opens Kalamazoo cafe
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — Several people trickled into a new coffee shop that’s serving up more than what customers see on the menu. The Walnut & Park Café officially opened Monday morning in Kalamazoo on Walnut Street near Park Street. The café is almost completely staffed by ex-offenders who are members or graduates of the
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New coffee shop looks to help those on probation or parole re-enter community
Walnut & Park featured on Newschannel 3 – Getting a job after being in trouble with the law can be tough. But for more than 35 years, KPEP, in Kalamazoo has been helping those on probation or parole get back into the working world. Monday, their newest efforts open to the public. The Walnut and Park
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