HOLLY SPRINGS — Marshall County Correctional Facility celebrated a new class of graduates April 7 from the Mississippi Rehabilitative Initiative, an evidence-based program designed to help incarcerated individuals adopt healthier behaviors and prepare for re-entry into society.
The approximately nine-month program combines education, behavioral therapy and job training. Participants completed coursework such as GED or HiSet preparation, Moral Reconation Therapy, Thinking for a Change, a 100-hour re-entry program and vocational career training, along with classes in criminological and sociological theory, substance abuse education and other electives.
Superintendent Frank Caswell said the graduates demonstrated discipline and commitment throughout the program. “This represents more than certificates — it represents second chances, accountability, and a new direction,” Caswell said. “Each graduate made a decision to invest in themselves, and that decision will impact not only their future but also their families and communities.”
Officials and criminal justice experts generally say rehabilitative and re-entry programs aim to reduce recidivism, improve employment prospects and strengthen community safety by providing education, treatment and job skills. The Mississippi Rehabilitative Initiative, also known as MRI, is one of several efforts in the state corrections system focused on those goals.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.
