BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — A group of graduates are turning a new leaf as they transition from the criminal justice system to the working world.
In life, we all make mistakes. For most people, all they need is a second chance.
“I ended up in a bad situation that, thank God I was able to come out of,” said Kaitlan Brandon, graduate of GEO Reentry Services Program.
GEO Reentry Services is a program that offers educational courses to help people transition from life behind bars to the working society and they are giving 22 graduates just that.
“No matter what it is you’ve been through, never allow your past to dictate your present or your future,” said Brandon.
After spending nearly five years in prison, Brandon, who’s also a mom, says she wants to set a better example for her daughter.
“To be able to get through this process with my daughter every step of the way has just been amazing,” said Brandon.
It was a very emotional time for one dad, who says he missed the early stages of his child’s life after facing 229 years in prison and serving 10.
“How I feel, this feels way better than when I finished high school, because it means more,” said Terry Lee Denham Jr., graduate of GEO Reentry Services Program.
Unfortunately, one student, Mr. Leonard Whitfield, passed away before the graduation ceremony. His family was there to receive a certificate in his honor.
The ultimate goal is to change the thoughts and behaviors of convicted felons. With the hopes of preventing them from making the same mistakes and going back into the system.
“I determined to give my son everything that I could while I was gone, that’s why I took advantage of my time while I was back there. It’s purity when poison is being laid out,” said Denham.
