Clearwater, FL – Criminon Florida is inviting the community to tour its center in downtown Clearwater, 45 N. Fort Harrison Avenue, to find out how Criminon is rehabilitating criminal offenders and reducing recidivism. The center is open Monday to Friday 10:00am to 1:00pm and 2pm to 7:00pm; and Saturday and Sunday 2:00pm to 7:00pm.

According to Best Places – an up-to-date website that provides comparisons between US cities on cost of living, crime, climate and schools – violent crime in Clearwater is higher than the national average by 8 points and property crime in Clearwater is committed at a rate of 51.9 per cent, 16 points higher than the US average.

With a budget of over 2.7 billion dollars, Florida's Department of Corrections (DOC) has the third largest prison system in the US. The US government spends almost $84 billion in total on prisons and jails.

So, what is the answer to criminlaity and recidivism? How can America reduce the financial and social suffering caused by crime?

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. It is a free program, managed by volunteers.

For more information on the Criminon program, call 727-467-6963, email [email protected] or visit the Criminon Florida center in downtown Clearwater.