News - 2009
Female Offenders Graduate Treatment Program
West Caldwell, NJ, Mar 1 - A graduation ceremony was held today for 39 female offenders at a 'behind the walls' reentry treatment program at the Hernando Correctional Institution in Brooksville, Florida on February 26. The graduates celebrated their completion of a treatment program designed to foster each offender's successful reentry back into the community.
"Community Education Centers provides effective reentry treatment programs to reduce recidivism in the state of Florida. I am extremely proud of the men who graduated today. Their completion of this reentry treatment program marks an important milestone on their journey to leading productive and law-abiding lives," said Michael Walker, State Director for Florida at Community Education Centers, Inc. "National statistics confirm that 97 percent of offenders in prison will return to the community. Our mission is to provide offenders with comprehensive reentry treatment services that help them develop life skills they will need when they return to the community."
The 50-bed program is operated by Community Education Centers, Inc., a vendor under contract with the Florida Department of Corrections to provide reentry treatment and work release services at several state correctional institutions. The Hernando reentry treatment program includes a 12 step program associated with AA and NA, and a comprehensive life skills education course focused on the needs of female offenders including addictions, criminal thinking errors, and job readiness training.
"Our Department's missions to ensure public safety and assist an offender's reentry into the community are both well served by this program. Studies show that offenders who have completed substance abuse programs are less likely to reoffend and return to prison, which is a win-win situation for offenders and taxpayers. Further, this program provides substance abuse treatment which also includes a focus on transitional skills needed for re-entry that are geared toward the unique needs of female offenders," said Pam Denmark, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Programs at the Florida Department of Corrections.
Upon graduation from the program, the female offenders will be reassigned to institutional work and are required to continue their treatment by attending AA/NA meetings and Program Alumni Groups until transferred to a Work Release Program or released back into society.
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