The Georgia Department of Community Supervision DRC graduation ceremony held Thursday

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – The Georgia Department of Community Supervision held their graduation ceremony for Day Reporting Center students on Thursday, July 28.

This ceremony gives individuals who have made poor choices a chance to make their paths straight and their lives right through mentorship and counseling.

“So, every day I gotta go there, I gotta actually attend the class, I gotta go through the everyday steps, so it was tedious, but I made it work,” graduate Julian Johnson said.

That’s the reality for most graduates.

“It took determination, and discipline, and believing in myself. Understanding that struggle builds character and that it’s not gonna always be easy,” Johnson said.

Julian Johnson said he couldn’t have done it without the support of his loved ones, like his mother.

“You just can’t ignore the fact. It’s not that they don’t want to do better, it’s just that they dn’t want to– especially black men– they don’t want to admit that there is an issue, like they are having problems. ‘I can’t find a job; I can’t make more money and it’s the lesser of two evils. If I can’t do this, then I’ll do this,” Mother of Graduate Cheryl Hall-Gross said.

Thursday morning’s ceremony highlighted those who completed the intensive supervision and counseling-based program.

“I spent a whole lot of time putting away violent criminals, and sex predators and all these dangerous people– if you’re hurting others, I’ll put you in prison, but if you’re hurting yourself, I want to help,” D.A. Jared Williams said.

The program aims to reduce recidivism and help individuals live productive, law-abiding lives.

“My goal is to listen, to learn as much as we can, so that when we’re making decisions that impact human lives, that we’re doing it in a way that propels them forward and gets them the help they need so that we don’t end up in that cycle of incarceration,” Williams said.

Johnson says he has a message for anyone who might be going through what he once did.

“Stay focused, and after the storm it’ll be a rainbow.”

This was the 28th DRC graduation ceremony, but organization leaders say it has helped far more individuals than just 28. If you want to learn more information about the program, click here .

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