Cleveland Bell, Executive Director of Riverside House, was the Miami West Rotary Club’s featured speaker last week. Bell discussed whether getting tough on crime is working in our community.

Bell directs the strategic planning, development, and day to day operations of Riverside House, a versatile community-based Comprehensive Sanctions Center founded in 1974.

Riverside House provides residential care, outpatient services, education and spiritual and social guidance for federal offenders, INS aliens, the homeless, and those under supervised release. The 94 bed facility offers group and individual counseling, case management, job placement drug education and treatment, drug testing, resident accountability, life skills, recreation, and pastoral care.

Bell is the second executive director of Riverside House, having held his position for 22 years. Under his leadership, Riverside House has accomplished a great many things. It is one of only three fully-accredited, private, nonprofit, residential halfway houses in Florida. Also, Riverside House has received continual accreditation from the American Correctional Association since 1986.

Riverside House expanded to a coeducational program in 1989. Last year, Riverside House assisted over 350 men and women with a 79% success rate. At present, there are 90 clients are in the program.

Riverside House established a contracting relationship with the Federal Bureau of Prisons for offenders being reintegrated into society from prison. These clients are permitted to leave the facility in order to report to jobs, but must be back at the facility by 9:00 PM. Many are guilty of white-collar crimes and have included professors and lawyers—people from all walks of life.

Some clients are at Riverside House in lieu of serving jail time. Designated a Community Sanctioned Center under the umbrella of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Riverside House works with clients sentenced to house arrest.

With an annual budget of approximately $2.5 million, program funding comes from several sources. Firstly, the Riverside House receives money from Metro-Dade’s Homeless Trust and the federal government. Additionally, a fundraising banquet is held annually in March. Also, clients must contribute to the cost of the program and are charged 25% of their gross pay.

While the average stay is six months, some clients remain in the program up to twelve months. From three to four clients share a room with a private bath. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the community dining room and there is a recreation room.

Bell earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Florida International University and an Associate of Arts from Miami Dade Community College.

In 1987, Bell participated in Leadership Miami, sponsored by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.

He also received a certification in Addiction Studies from NEI Training Institute and a Leadership Seminar/Prison Fellowship.

Bell is active professionally and in our community. He is a member of the International Association of Residential and Community Alternatives; serves as Board Vice President and Vice President of Region V for International Community Corrections; and is on the Dade County Homeless Trust.

In 1992, Bell was selected for the Florida Governor’s Commission on Homeless Strategic Planning Committee.

Bell appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Government Operations, which dealt with the issue of continuing community corrections.

He helped judge the Miami Herald Silver Knight Awards, and appeared on Montage, Protestant Worship Hour, The 700 Club, TBN TV-45, and Radio WMCU.

Bell was recognized by the Department of Treasury’s Black History Program and received a Proclamation from Metropolitan Dade County.

The Miami West Chapter of Rotary International meets each week on Wednesday from 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Doral Country Club, 5001 NW 104 Avenue, Miami, FL:.

During the weekly luncheon meetings, a wide variety of speakers discuss business and community issues and are open to the public at a fee of $15 per meeting.

Contact Rick Tonkinson at 305-593-0001 ext. 205 to reserve a seat or learn more about Rotary International.