FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. – A Triad prison ministry aims to help people rebuild their lives, find jobs and never return to prison after release. 

What You Need To Know

  • Forsyth Jail & Prison Ministries works to help inmates rebuild their lives after incarceration

  • Staff work with inmates before and after their release to find housing, transportation and employment

  • More information about the program is available here

According to a 2022 report from the N.C. Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission, 41% of people arrested in the state were arrested again within two years.

Forsyth Jail & Prison Ministries is working to reduce that number with a variety of resources for inmates, such as its Transition To Work program. Staff work with inmates before and after their release to tackle their biggest challenges, including employment and reliable transportation, finding housing and building a support system. 

TTW program director Ebony Hicks says the reoffense rate for program participants is only 7%. Hicks said she’s an ex-offender herself, and she wants the people in her program to realize that if she can change her life, so can they. 

“I feel that I personally instill hope into these guys because I’ve been there,” Hicks said. “That, as well as the resources that [are] provided to them, is what makes the program work for them. Which keeps the recidivism rate at 7%." 

Program graduate Artemus Carter had his first brush with prison when he was 17. He spent half of his life in prison and said program staff like Hicks see graduates as more than their mistakes. 

“A lot of times when people get out, you know, we already are written off. Already. We already have that stigma of 'bad' on us,” Carter said. 

Hicks said part of her job involves networking and building partner relationships with businesses in Forsyth County. She finds job connections for her program graduates like Artemus, checks on their home plans, ensures they have taken the program’s required classes and helps them prepare for the outside world. 

“They’ll help you … when you get out with financial situations, you know? If you need some clothes or you know, whatever the issue may be, they want to help you with this. They’ve made a commitment to do whatever they can do to keep you out,” Carter said. 

Forsyth Jail & Prison Ministries staff hope the TTW program spreads far beyond the county to change as many lives as possible. More information about the program is available here.