Breaking the Cycle: CPC’s Pathways to Change Has Transformed 775 Lives Across 9 Facilities

In collaboration with the Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC), Christopher A. Pugh II Center received a contracted to deliver a comprehensive 150-hour Cognitive Behavioral Intervention Program (CBIP) aimed at breaking the cycle of incarceration and empowering individuals to take control of their future. Over the course of four years, over 775 individuals from nine facilities have been positively impacted. Participants of the program set and achieved meaningful life goals to successfully transition back into society.

The facilities involved in the program include Bledsoe County Correctional Complex (BCCX), Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center (DJRC), Morgan County Correctional Complex (MCCX), Northeast Correctional Complex (NECX), Northwest Correctional Complex (NWCX), Riverbend Maximum Security Institution (RMSI), Turney Center Industrial Complex (TCIX), West Tennessee State Penitentiary (WTSP), and the Women’s Therapeutic Residential Center (WTRC). Through these collaborations, CPC has successfully facilitated the program with each cohort graduating, leaving behind the old patterns of behavior that had once kept them trapped. 

Our CBIP program integrates a structured intervention that helps participants understand the roots of their actions, manage their emotions, and make healthier decisions. Many entered the program struggling with emotional regulation or impulsivity, but they all shared a common desire: to change. Through intensive group therapy sessions, individuals practiced vital skills such as conflict resolution, emotional control, and communication through role-playing real-world scenarios and engaging in supportive group discussions, allowing participants to build resilience and develop better ways to interact with others.

The impact of these sessions extended beyond the classroom. Inmates began to use their newly acquired skills to defuse potential conflicts and avoid violent situations. The program not only helped these individuals transform their thinking but also equipped them with the tools to foster healthier relationships and avoid the patterns of behavior that once led them astray. As graduates of the program, they no longer view themselves as criminals but as people with purpose and the potential for a better future. 

As these 775 graduates move forward in their journey, they carry with them the core lessons of accountability, emotional regulation, and the belief that change is always possible. They are breaking free from the cycle of incarceration and despair, equipped with the skills needed to build a brighter future for themselves and their families. The work of CPC and its partners proves that second chances are real and that individuals, regardless of their past, can choose a new path, change their behavior, and ultimately transform their lives. 

This program is not just about rehabilitation — it's about empowerment, personal growth, and creating opportunities for a future free from the cycle of incarceration. CPC is proud to have played a pivotal role in the lives of these 775 graduates. The impact of the Pathways to Change program will continue to resonate long after the graduation ceremony.