Madison Co. inmates celebrate new beginnings with family

JACKSON, Tenn. — A group of Madison County inmates take a big step in making a better life for themselves and their families once they’re released.

Friday was an emotional celebration of a new beginning in the lives of six men and their families.

“I apologize to my family for hurting them. It hurts me,” graduating inmate Dustin French said with tears in his eyes. “It hurts me the most that I hurt them.”

The Madison County inmates graduated Friday from Life’s Healing Choices, a voluntary faith-based recovery program, which over 10 weeks teaches them to make better choices.

“To be the leader in the home, and hopefully this is a way you begin that,” Madison County Circuit Court Judge Don Allen said.

Leaders of the Life’s Healing Choices program say to succeed, these men need their family’s help.

“It’s going to take your encouragement,” program spiritual director Heath Goff said to the inmates’ families. “It’s going to take your prayers, but most of all it’s going to take your love.”

“I can’t change past, but we can work on future,” said graduating inmate Khristopher Dies. “If y’all bear with me, I’ll make you proud of me.”

Brandon Kilzer, who’s now a free man, completed the course earlier this year.

“I’ve been through quite a few of these programs,” Kilzer said. “I hate to say none of them ever worked until this one.”

Although the graduates still have a few months left on their sentences, they say they are confident the lessons learned inside will help them be successful on the outside.

“I will say this, as soon as I get out of here I’m going to be a changed man,” graduating inmate Chris Needham said.

This is the second graduating class for the men Life’s Healing Choices program. The program started in January.