Mississippi Women Graduate Peer-Led Prison Recovery Program

Twenty-three women walked across a stage at Mississippi Correctional Institute for Women this month, not just to receive certificates, but to celebrate a fresh start they helped create themselves.

The Haven is different from most prison programs. Incarcerated women designed it specifically for their peers struggling with addiction, toxic relationships, and the weight of past choices.

The program's first graduating class completed Phase One: Refuge after months of intensive work. They tackled 11 in-person classes covering emotional awareness, forgiveness, identity, recovery principles, life skills, and codependency.

Participants didn't just attend class and return to their cells. They lived together in a shared unit, ate meals as a community, and held each other accountable through the hardest moments of self-examination.

Dr. Beth Masters, the program's chaplain and facilitator, didn't mince words about the commitment required. "We have dug, and they have really examined themselves in this program," she said at the graduation ceremony.

Several graduates also received sobriety chips marking significant recovery milestones. Each chip represented days, weeks, or months of choosing a different path.

Whitney Hixson, who recently received parole, described The Haven as a turning point. The structured environment gave her space to reflect, develop healthier coping strategies, and rebuild damaged relationships.

The Ripple Effect

The Haven's impact extends beyond its first 23 graduates. Program leaders intentionally designed it to keep spreading, whether participants remain incarcerated or return home.

"When they leave The Haven, they will carry what they have learned with them and share it with others," an incarcerated facilitator explained. The peer-to-peer model means every graduate becomes a potential mentor.

Community partners including First Baptist Church of Jackson, Crossgates Church of Brandon, and God Behind Bars supported the program's launch. Their involvement bridges the gap between life inside and outside prison walls.

Superintendent Katrina Reid reminded graduates that finishing Phase One was just one step. "Recovery is a journey of a thousand steps, and today you took a significant one," she told them.

The tools these women learned create a foundation they can build on, whether they're preparing for release or supporting others still serving time. Real change starts from within, and sometimes the best teachers are those who've walked the same difficult road.