CGTC’s Office of Re-entry Services Launches Blog of Formerly Incarcerated Student Success Stories

February 9, 2018


Warner Robins, Ga. – The Office of Re-entry Services at Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) has teamed up with the College’s Marketing and Public Relations staff to create a blog devoted to telling the success stories of formerly incarcerated citizens who took advantage of technical education programs while incarcerated.

Re-entry Services at CGTC is a division committed to the educational and training component of criminal justice reform and recidivism rate reduction among Georgia’s incarcerated citizens, and through its efforts, streamlines effective transition of those citizens into the workforce.

“Traditionally, it’s the desire of the citizens we serve to return to a place of normalcy and to begin to create new systems of influence to enhance and sustain essential relationships with their families, communities, and employers. We support their desire for anonymity, yet feel their accomplishments should be celebrated. Therefore, we asked each instructor to contact those returning citizens who wanted to share their stories of resilience so that they can show there is life – a meaningful life – outside the prison walls,” said Dr. Brittany Lucas, CGTC’s executive director for Re-entry Services.

The Office of Re-entry Services at CGTC oversees certificate programs and on-the-job training, and employs nearly thirty instructors who teach in areas such as Welding, Design and Media Production, Horticulture, Diesel Truck Maintenance, Animal Healthcare, Barbering, and more.

Under the supervision of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), CGTC’s Re-Entry Services programs are available in 13 public and private correctional facilities across Georgia, and operate under inter-governmental agency contracts from Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT), the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC), and the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ).

Dr. Lucas and her team commit daily to reducing recidivism. The office recognizes the continued importance Gov. Nathan Deal has placed on criminal justice reform and the recidivism rate since his proposals of overhaul legislation during his initial months in office.

“Our team makes an effort to recognize that our students are first and foremost citizens; therefore, we take seriously the responsibility the state has entrusted to us to provide competitive, high-quality, technically-driven programs,” Dr. Lucas said.

“Not only has the state entrusted us to make wrap-around re-entry services available, but also our students and their families look to us to provide continuous academic support prior to and post release.”

Visit CGTC’s Office of Re-entry Services blog at https://spark.adobe.com/page/znt6RidMgumE8/