News - 2009
Florida State Representative, DOC Officials Speak at Graduations
West Caldwell, NJ, Jan 10 - CEC's Residential Therapeutic Community Program (RTCP) at the Gainesville Correctional Institution and the treatment program at the Hollywood Transitional Work Release Program held graduations for over 50 male and female offenders in December. Keynote speaker at the Gainesville graduation was State Representative Charles S. "Chuck" Chestnut IV and at the Hollywood graduation, Franchatta Barber, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Re-Entry at the Florida Department of Corrections, spoke to the guests.
"Where you are is not who you are. Hold your head high as you have been through the storm. You are a survivor. You are somebody," said Franchatta Barber.
The ceremonies were marked by speeches from clinical staff and graduates who expressed optimism and a dedication to living law abiding lives upon their release.
"Cost effective reentry treatment programs provide the most significant way to reduce offender recidivism in the State of Florida. As these graduates reenter society, they have been provided with the tools necessary to become productive citizens of the State," said Michael Walker, State Director of Florida.
The Gainesville Correctional Institution RTCP has been in operation since 1998 serving adult male inmates and provides a 9-12 month treatment program. The Hollywood Transitional Work Release Program has been in operation since 2003 and provides a two year treatment program for 121 female offenders.
Both of the treatment programs include 12 step services associated with AA and NA, and a comprehensive life skills education course focused on the unique needs of male and female offenders including addiction, criminal thinking errors, physical, emotional, and domestic abuse, and vocational/educational skills.
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