PLUS Program Graduation

These graduates are embarking on a new chapter in life, or rather a new chance at life. "It probably saved my life," says Kendall Scott. Because theyre also the faces of men in prison. The 33 men volunteered to be guinea pigs in a new faith and character based program called PLUS. After 19 months they are the first at Branchville Correctional Facility to complete the program. Among them is Kendall Scott. Hes serving five years for manufacturing meth but his problems started much earlier. "I started drinking at smoking pot when I was 15 and was arrested when i was 42 so do the math that would be 27 years." Despite everything Scotts parents Bill and Carol are by his side on graduation day. "He finally fulfilled all I knew he was capable of all his life," says Bill Scott. Now Scott is only a few months away from living that life with the rest of the population again, but to really understand what this program means to Scott and his family when hes outside the fence you have to see what he did while in it. Scotts volunteered for the second chance at life program rehabilitating race dogs. "Its a good feeling they like being with you and want to be around you." These dogs like KC came here with no freedom and if they didnt find someone like scott they would have been euthanized. So it makes sense Scott thinks of them as kindered spirits. "I also have a second chance at life." The dogs are only one part of the program. The most important part is the support of families. You can see that with the parents who came to support their sons at graduation. "For almost 30 years I neglected them and every change I get to see them now is a blessing." No one knows yet how well this program will translate outside the barbed wire. But if the testament of the familys say anything "Im very happy, very pleased and very proud of him," says Bill Scott. Or the testament of the men "Ive learned its not all about me theres some other things in the world that need taken care of." The program will be a success. Scott is staying in the PLUS program as a mentor to the other men working through the program until he leaves prison in November. He plans to volunteer with the program as long as theyll have him around.