The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles’ residential reentry facility, the PREP Rehabilitation Center, in Perry County has been recognized for its success in reducing recidivism rates. Since opening in 2022, the center has had a 100 percent graduation rate for its 90-day rehabilitation program for high-risk parolees. This success has led to the facility being named a finalist for the State Transformation in Action Recognition Award.
Director Cam Ward credits the program with significantly lowering Alabama’s recidivism rate, which typically sits around 29 percent. In comparison, day reporting centers, which have similar goals but are not residential, have a recidivism rate of about 15 percent. The PREP center boasts a zero percent recidivism rate, with no graduates returning to prison.
The program offers mental health assistance, substance use disorder treatment, education, and workforce readiness services. Due to its success, there are plans to replicate the program for women in other areas of the state. Some graduates have been able to secure high-paying jobs, with some earning up to $65,000 per year.
The ABPP has seen a slight increase in parolees recently, with a higher rate of inmates being granted parole. This increase has been deemed ideal by Ward, who sees it as an opportunity for more individuals to benefit from programs like the PREP Rehabilitation Center. The success of the program has garnered national attention, with other states expressing interest in replicating the model.
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Photo credit aldailynews.com
