ABPP’s Acclaimed Reentry Program Reached a New Milestone Last Week with Its 10th Graduating Class

By Jakiya Dudley, Media Specialist

UNIONTOWN, Ala. – Celebrating a milestone with its 10^th graduating class from the PREP Program, the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles demonstrated its ongoing commitment to public safety, rehabilitation and reentry through the transformative work happening at the Perry County PREP Center.

On Wednesday, July 3, the agency proudly celebrated over 50 new graduates during a commencement ceremony. This milestone brought the center’s total number of graduates to nearly 400 since opening its doors in April 2022. The program has maintained a zero percent recidivism rate to date, helping participants stay out of incarceration and move toward more stable, productive futures.

“PREP has become a best-practice and blueprint for what’s working in reentry,” ABPP Director Cam Ward said. “This is a lifechanging program that provides the tools, knowledge and guidance – whether that’s job training, mental health counselling or substance use treatment – for formerly incarcerated Alabamians to succeed in life after prison. Of course, this model and its success are only possible thanks to our great partners and our folks on the frontlines.”

The PREP Center provides comprehensive reentry and rehabilitation services to probationers and parolees across Alabama, creating meaningful opportunities for individuals to rebuild their lives and make positive contributions to their communities. Partners like the Alabama Community College System, Ingram State Technical College, the Alabama Department of Mental Health, Alabama Power, GEO Group and others have been essential to the services and programs that are core to the PREP model’s success.

Graduate Micah Williams shared a heartfelt message about growth and opportunity, reflecting on how far the class had come. He noted that while no one started as an expert, the program equipped them with valuable skills, both technical and personal, that make a real difference. From learning to read a tape measure to building resumes and earning GEDs, Williams emphasized that these tools not only prepare them for the workforce but also for becoming positive influences in their families and communities.

“People make mistakes, but that doesn’t make you a mistake.” These powerful words from J.F. Ingram State Technical College President Annette Funderburk captured the heart of her message to graduates. She spoke with pride about their growth and accomplishments, celebrating how far each student had come since beginning the program. President Funderburk emphasized that true reentry means more than finishing a course, it means returning home with skills, employment, and renewed purpose. She reminded graduates that Ingram State remains a source of support as they move forward into the next chapter of their lives.

Lakrystal Love, Director of The GEO Group, encouraged graduates to walk confidently into their next chapter, reminding them that others may still see who they used to be, but they know who they are now. With new skills, determination, and a renewed sense of purpose, she affirmed their progress with a powerful message: “You’ve already proven that you can rise and that’s something no one can take from you.”

Speaker Michael Brackin from Fatherhood Initiative at the Dallas County Director of Systems Services shared his personal journey of transformation. His message centered on three key principles: own your story, build your support, and stay committed to growth. “The world tried to reduce me to my worst moments,” he said, but through accountability, strong support systems, and daily effort, he chose to write a better next chapter and encouraged graduates to do the same.

Board Member Gabrelle Simmons congratulated each graduate, reminding them that their potential was seen from the start. “We believed in you, that’s why you were granted this opportunity,” she said. She encouraged them to keep going, acknowledging that while every day may not be easy, their achievement is proof that greatness already lives within them.

Board Member Darryl Littleton offered words of encouragement grounded in compassion and belief. “We saw something in each of you that was different,” he said. He reminded graduates that one mistake does not define a person, and that genuine care and belief brought them to this point. “You have something in you, keep going,” he urged, affirming that their futures are not limited by their pasts, but shaped by the strength they carry forward.

Since opening its doors in April 2022, the Perry County PREP Center has served as a powerful example of what effective reentry can look like. With nearly 400 graduates and a zero percent recidivism rate to date, the center continues to provide individuals with the tools, support, and opportunity to rewrite their stories, proving that with the right guidance, change is not only possible, but sustainable.