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The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles, in collaboration with J.F. Ingram State Technical College and members of the Perry County Commission, last Friday, celebrated the graduation of the latest class from the Perry County PREP Center, a facility that provides reentry and rehabilitation services to probationers and parolees across the state.
“Our goal is to provide programs that prepare our participants for success in life—whether that means securing good-paying jobs or receiving effective treatments to tackle mental health or substance use issues,” said Bureau Director Cam Ward. He emphasized the importance of employment in reducing recidivism, stating, “Data indicates that good employment significantly lowers the chances of re-offending, and we want to ensure that anyone given a second chance in Alabama will do the most with that opportunity.”
This cohort included 51 individuals who completed a range of reentry programs, including mental health and substance use counseling, as well as job training in fields such as commercial driver’s license (CDL) certification, fiber-optics installation, and construction equipment operation. The training took place over 90 days at the PREP Center in Perry County.
Perry County Commission Chairman Albert Turner, Jr. praised the graduates and underscored the facility’s impact on the community. He expressed gratitude to Governor Kay Ivey, Alabama State Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, and Director Ward for their support of the program. “The only avenue we had to turn this place from an empty facility into a productive operation is because someone believed in redemption,” Turner said.
Since its inception, the PREP Center, along with Day Reporting Centers, has helped 321 individuals on probation or parole complete reentry programs. PREP Center participants have completed approximately 2,000 hours of coursework in life skills, career readiness, community service, GED attainment, and vocational training. Remarkably, no graduate of the PREP Center has reoffended or returned to prison.
Joseph Goodwin, a recent graduate of the program, highlighted the transformative impact of the training. “To the counselors: a special thank you to the lessons you taught us in moral recognition,” he said. “Without those lessons, we would still be prisoners in our own prisons. The last 90 days have taught us how to rethink positively, express ourselves constructively, and acquire skills like fiber optics installation, skid-steer loader operation, and essential life skills.”
The PREP Center, which opened on April 21, 2022, is designed to divert individuals from incarceration by offering them an opportunity to resolve barriers to successful reintegration. It is supported by GEO Group under the advisement of the Alabama Department of Mental Health, with additional support from J.F. Ingram State Technical College and Alabama Power.
Nationally recognized for its innovative approach, the PREP Center was recently named a finalist for the State Transformation in Action Recognition by the Council of State Governments. The program continues to expand, with a new class of participants beginning their coursework on Monday. Their graduation is tentatively scheduled for December 20, 2024.
