Graduation ceremony for Richmond County inmates

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – A graduation ceremony on Tuesday marked the completion of four different educational or job-related programs for some Richmond County Correctional Institution inmates.

Graduates either got their GED’s, or became certified in forklift operation, OSHA or ServSafe.

To enroll in the courses, inmates had to be 90 days free of disciplinary action.

“I’m graduated for forklifting, but I’m more determined to get my GED and any other classes that are available,” said Octavious Borders.

“I graduated with the forklift class, got a certification for that,” said Deventa Burgess. “I would like to use it just to get a feel for something different than what I’m used to and just do something different in life.”

Most of the programs were offered through Augusta Tech.

“We would like for our program to be worldwide working with various institutions to help those inmates become better citizens,” said Shaneca Middleton, who works in Adult Education at Augusta Tech.

According to the Georgia Department of Corrections , 27% of inmates who are released from prison will re-offend.

Those at Tuesday’s graduation ceremony think programs like this will help lower that statistic and prepare them for re-entering society.

“Our whole goal is to reduce the recidivism rate to help these guys not re-offend and give them the tools they need to actually satisfy that when they get out in the community,” said RCCI Deputy Warden Marie Boulton. “It’s easier said than done, the recidivism rate can be kind of high at times, but we do not have a high turnover rate. Sometimes they do come back, most times they do not.”

“This is my chance at a new beginning. This is one chapter closing just for a new chapter to open up,” Burgess said. “I live with no regrets so I feel like I went through this for a reason, God put me through this for a reason. So, I’m just waiting to see what he’s got planned for me in the future once this is over with.”

“Being here and seeing them in their caps and gowns, it makes me wanna push to get my GED and do what I gotta do,” Borders said.

Deputy Warden Boulton said the next graduation ceremony should be in about 6 months.

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