On Thursday, Feb. 3, the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles held a commencement ceremony at Coastal Alabama Community College in Bay Minette, Ala, featuring seven new Baldwin Day Reporting Center Lite graduates. This was the Baldwin DRC Lite’s fourth graduating class and its first independent graduation. Especially notable was the success of the graduates in the three-year program through the entirety of the COVID-19 pandemic so far.
Director Cam Ward, referencing the motivation to graduates given in his keynote address, said, “Second chances should be the hallmark of our criminal justice system. These graduates worked hard to conquer their addictions to make themselves better, safer citizens in our society. I am truly proud of them.”
Baldwin DRC Lite Administrator Joshua Davis encouraged the graduates to change their perspectives, build from their failures and to never quit. “This program is not easy, and it takes a combination of mental strength, cognitive change and the attitude to complete it,” Davis said.
The graduates were enrolled in and completed moral reconation therapy, the Fatherhood Initiative, adult education classes, OSHA certification classes and more.
Deputy Director of Parolee Rehabilitation Rebecca Bensema presented certificates of completion to the graduates. “The first DRC commencement of the new year was a display of the hard work and dedication of the participants and staff. These successful participants overcame adversity with the evidenced programming provided by the Baldwin DRC staff. The success of these participants is a shining example of what can be accomplished when supervision efforts are focused on reentry and rehabilitation,” Bensema said.
One graduate, Richard Waldrep, spoke at the event. He excelled in the DRC program from his intake day, and discussed changing his life for the better and learning increased generosity. Waldrep also was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer during the DRC program, and was given a 50 percent chance to live. He did not give up and continued to move forward in the program, later receiving a great report after surgery.
DRCs provide counseling, educational training and supervision for probationers and parolees. With a focus on employment assistance, substance abuse treatment, mental health, and cognitive restructuring needs, DRC staff is committed to reducing recidivism rates and improving public safety through behavior change. Currently, full Day Reporting Centers are located in Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, and Tuscaloosa. Day Reporting Center Lites, condensed versions of our DRCs incorporated into field offices and offering similar treatment, are located in Bay Minette, Fort Payne, Guntersville, Opelika and Jasper.
