Kenneth August says his time in the Day Reporting Center improved his outlook on life and it boosted his confidence.
“I’m not as angry and I have the patience now,” said August, 35.
August is a dismantler now, a job that the DRC helped him secure. He will be on probation for another two years, but on Tuesday night, he celebrated a milestone — successfully completing the Day Reporting Center program after nine months.
A total of 16 graduated Tuesday evening — 12 men and four women. Their transition involves a behavioral change, one that leaves many speechless before taking the stage at their graduation.
First up was August, who received a SpongeBob SquarePants ornament to match his tie as a gift from the DRC staff alongside his certificate of graduation.
His daughter is in Los Angeles County with her mother and while she cannot attend his graduation, he has something to keep her nearby.
“I’m wearing my SpongeBob SquarePants tie for her," he said. During his graduation speech, he added, "My tie symbolizes her."
His story also represents those of many there. Tracie Neal, director of Shasta County Probation, said nearly 100 people have graduated from the program and 96 percent of its advanced participants either have a job or are going back to school.
Program Manager Danielle Caito at the DRC says that transition is the key to the program.
“A lot who come through the center think they cannot become part of the community again," Caito said. "But at a certain point in the program they see that" they can.
Wayne Falcone, 35, sees his sobriety as a reward, one he has worked for over the past several years.
“It was hard at first. So was the DRC, but it got easier. It was good for me right away after being locked up, because I needed that structure to get me used to life again."
Shasta County Superior Court Judge Gregory Gaul called the graduates as equals and said "you guys are no different than us.
"You all have done a fantastic job. You're all very important people, good members of society," he said.
That's a far cry from when they were passing through the criminal justice system and felt as though no one would trust or support them. He added that many things that set them on the path to crime had been beyond their control but through their work and determination have accomplished much with the DRC.
Daniel Conklin, a graduate of a previous DRC class, reminded them how far they'd come.
"Living our lives in and out of the jail isn't fun... isn't something to be proud of," he said.
Neal stressed that the graduates have cited the DRC staff's support as well as probation in its success.
"The DRC works and you're proof it works," she said.
The DRC provides support for job placement, behavioral therapy and staff test clients for substance abuse. Those who go through the program can find themselves in the program from eight months to over a year.
Northern California District Manager Amanda Owens said the type of work done at the DRC is meant to improve long-term skills.
"This is not just compliance, it's not just someone checking in with their probation officer to comply with a curfew. That doesn't change behavior. These changes are going to stay with them," Owens said.
The DRC is a program from BI Inc, a GEO Group Company, and is at full capacity with 120 clients who visit the center on Court Street in Redding daily.
They recently added a supervising case manager.
At the ceremony, Redding Police Chief Rob Paoletti said he'd like to see the program expand its capacity to 200 clients. He also encouraged graduates to consider their accomplishments as a new beginning and a new resolution to always work on self-improvement.
"We're never done making ourselves better," he said.
