10 Mississippi inmates celebrate addiction program graduation

BOLIVAR COUNTY, Miss. (VDN) — Bolivar County Regional Correctional Facility recently recognized 10 inmates who completed its Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program, an initiative aimed at breaking cycles of addiction and promoting rehabilitation.

The graduates stood before staff, leadership and fellow inmates during a ceremony held last week, marking the completion of a program focused on accountability, discipline and personal growth. Facility officials said each participant’s journey reflects a commitment to change and preparation for a better future after incarceration.

Several state and local leaders attended the event, including Steven Maxwell, director of the Corrections Investigation Division for the Mississippi Department of Corrections, who served as keynote speaker. Also in attendance were MDOC Director Derrick A. Chambers, members of the Bolivar County Board of Supervisors, representatives from Mississippi Department of Public Safety Planning, the Mississippi Association of Drug Court Professionals, the 11th Judicial Circuit Intervention Court, the Bolivar County Sheriff’s Department, and Thomas Taylor, former warden at the facility and former interim MDOC commissioner.

Chambers, who oversees regional facilities for MDOC, emphasized the importance of rehabilitation programs within correctional systems.

“This is what corrections should look like: programs that change behavior, structure that builds discipline, and opportunities that reduce recidivism,” Chambers said. “This is how we make Mississippi safer.”