BELDEN, Miss. (WTVA) -- Tuesday afternoon, graduates of Thinking For a Change were celebrated and given diplomas for their achievements in the program.
On the Belden campus of Itawamba Community College, nine students walked across the stage.
"It's a cognitive behavorial program that was designed by the National Institute of Corrections. And it's designed to teach pro-social problem solving skills, thinking skills, conflict resolution skills and things of that nature," said James Johnson of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Johnson said that since the program's inception, it's been a great success for keeping those who went through the program out of trouble.
"We've been in the program for 23 weeks. And it's a good program. It actually helps you. It helps you think better about everything you do. It helps you think about everything. If anything is going on, if you think it's wrong or even if it's right, it makes you think about it before you act. We learned that every action comes with a consequence. And that's basically what it's about," said graduate Mark Knox.
"You know, we were just expressing our feelings on how everything is and all that. It's really a good thing, Thinking For a Change. It's a really good thing," said another graduate, Jortavious Jones.
According to one student, 23 people started the class.
When asked if he would recommend the course to others, Mark Knox said he would even go beyond that.
"Yes, I would recommend. I want to come and speak. If there is another class, I want to come speak. This is a good class, you know. It helps a lot," said Knox.
This was the first class to go through the program, but MDOC and ICC plan on continuing the program.
