NOROFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Friday was graduation day for a group of inmates at Norfolk City Jail, but instead of a diploma, these men say they’re getting a new lease on life.
The inmates graduated from a substance abuse recovery program.
It’s an issue that affects many men and women behind bars in Norfolk.
The program is designed to keep inmates clean so they don’t end back up in the system, and it’s the first program of its kind to be offered in the state.
It’s not your typical graduation ceremony, but a big accomplishment nonetheless.
“I see the gleam in your eyes, I’ve seen the transformation. You’ve taken every little bit,” program staff member Leslie Garrett said, speaking to the inmates.
About 80 percent of inmates in the Norfolk City Jail struggle with substance abuse, but on Friday a group of men celebrated their commitment to beating that statistic.
“It feels great to finally do something to achieve, finally be able to do something that’s positive,” said Rodney Wright, an inmate who completed the addiction recovery program.
Wright and his peers went through three months of counseling for substance abuse, mental health issues and behavioral therapy with the goal of staying clean and staying out of jail once they’re released.
“This program has helped me out in a tremendous way. It’s helped me deal with some things in my past, things that I didn’t really know that were there that were dark places in my life,” said Travis Blount, another inmate who completed the program.
Each week brought them one step closer their goal.
“It’s given me some tools that I can continue to practice for the rest of my life and be a good father and role model to my kids,” Blount said.
And for the staff, this moment is just as rewarding.
“So many of these people, men and women have never been told they’ve been proud of,” Garrett said. “Once they meet their goal, you know that you’ve helped somebody along the road and there’s no better feeling to me.”
Once these inmates are released, they’re given information to connect with other recovery networks, and they’re also encouraged to reach out to the program coordinators for continued support.
