JCAP hosts a celebration as inmates will soon graduate the jails chemical addiction program

WARSAW, Ind -- Warsaw’s jail chemical addiction program at the prison hosted a celebration lunch as a thank you for the men’s group community service, as well as a celebration for their graduation coming up in just a couple of weeks.

Todd Rakita, Indiana’s Attorney General, made an appearance at the event. He offered some words of wisdom and encouragement as these men get ready to graduate.

He says, “Come on back, guys. It is better. It is better. And we look forward to seeing you be a productive member of this community.”

JCAP is a four-month program directed towards inmates with chemical dependencies.

12 People are enrolled into the program at a time, with men and women being in separate groups.

For some inmates, their struggle began at an early age.

Harold Lewis, an inmate at the jail, says, “ I had an addiction problem. It started when I was 14 or 15. In and out of prison, in and out of jail. This is my third time out of jail. It was just rough. I thought this was going to always be my life.”

Difficult and emotional situations cause a lot of these men to flip a switch and their lives and choose a different path.

Nathaniel Hollett says, “ I feel like I cost the life of a very good friend of mine. That still bothers me every day. She’s my catalyst for change. I refuse to have her life mean nothing to me.“

Throughout the program, these men learned many lessons, one of the biggest takeaways being that there are people who care about their well-being.

Hollett explains, “Other people have not given up on me , other people that want to see me succeed or tell me they want to see me succeed. So, I haven’t given up on myself. And I’m trying to move in a more positive direction to get my kids back.”

JCAP aims to provide skills and the tools necessary for these inmates to succeed when they are released.

Hollett says, “One person can change the world, and that is what we were trying to do, and that is what’s happening around here. There’s a difference being made around here, and it’s fascinating.