The journey to rehabilitation and a second chance begins with opportunity, guidance, and support. Two “transformed citizens”—graduates of the Inmate Success Program at the HCSO Restorative Center who have successfully reintegrated into the community—have shared their personal experiences. Their stories reflect the life-changing impact of the program, which provides education, mentorship, and job readiness skills to help individuals rebuild their lives. These letters offer a firsthand look at how the program is empowering former inmates to turn their past into a foundation for a brighter future.
Dear Sheriff Scandrett and the Henry County Community,
I am proud to call myself a “transformed citizen” and a graduate of the Henry County Sheriff’s Office Restorative Center. Having spent much of my adult life in and out of incarceration, I write to share my journey of transformation, gratitude, and hope. In 2020, I found myself serving 12 months on a probation violation while facing a possible seven-year prison sentence. Like many others, I carried a lifetime of unresolved pain and destructive habits. Until that point, I had never been housed in a facility that treated me as more than a number. The Restorative Center changed that. Programs like the Fatherhood Initiative reminded me that no matter where I was or what I had done, I was still a father—a provider, protector, and leader. The hardest part of my journey wasn’t the time I served—it was returning to the free world. My mindset and decision-making had been shaped by years of criminal thinking. Breaking free of that cycle required surrendering to a new way of life, built on principles instead of emotions. The Restorative Center taught me how to recognize crossroads in my thinking and make mindful, resourceful choices. After leaving the center, I began the difficult but rewarding work of building a new life. With the support of local mentors, my church, and Celebrate Recovery, I repaired broken relationships and built new, healthy ones. Today, I am proud to be an entrepreneur and small business owner in the renovations industry, with a business spanning multiple counties and generating nearly a quarter of a million dollars in profit last year. When people ask where I see myself in five years, my answer is simple: I focus on today. My mission is to stay connected to God and family and to keep showing up for the life I’ve built. The Restorative Center gave me a break in the relentless waves of life—a pause that allowed me to break the cycle I was trapped in. To anyone who feels stuck in their own waves, know that change is possible. Being a productive citizen is the result of consistent, mindful choices. To Sheriff Scandrett, Director Carter, and the Restorative Center team—thank you for creating a space where second chances thrive. To the Henry County community, thank you for supporting programs that change lives.
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