Program aims to reform prison inmates

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) - Tales are often told of what life is like behind bars, but we rarely see what goes on behind prison doors.

Inmates have a lot of time on their hands when they are behind bars. In Niagara County, there's an effort for inmates to use some of that time taking a closer look at themselves to figure out how they got there and how to change their way of thinking so they don't return.

The P.E.A.C.E. Program, which stands for "persistent effort always creates excellence," was launched by Reverend Jimmie Seright. He teams up with former inmates who have changed their lives to help current inmates change their mindsets and their lives. Those discussions can be heated and raw, but aim to get to the real issues they all know too well.

Xavier Walker of the P.E.A.C.E. Program said, "I'm going to tell you what a gangster does. A gangster takes car of his family, gangster pays taxes. A gangster goes to work everyday. You got a have a plan because if you don't you'll be back and forth, back and forth."

Rev. Seright added, "Remember: they're going home sooner or later. Therefore we want to have them in the right mindset when they do go home. These programs will help keep down that recidivism, that in and out of jail. If we can do that we will be productive. We will have done our jobs."

The P.E.A.C.E. program runs for eight weeks. Seventy inmates at the Niagara County Jail have completed it during the last two years and the sheriff says it has proven successful both within the jail and the community.