A former inmate in the United States has turned a powerful personal experience into a mission for change after purchasing a former prison facility with plans to transform it into a rehabilitation and training centre for individuals reentering society.
Kerwin Pittman, who previously served more than a decade behind bars, recently acquired the former Wayne Correctional Center in Goldsboro. The purchase marks what advocates say is the first known instance of a formerly incarcerated Black man in the United States buying a correctional facility.
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Pittman intends to repurpose the once-abandoned prison into a centre focused on rehabilitation, education, and second chances.
From Incarceration to Advocacy
Pittman spent 11 and a half years in prison before rebuilding his life after release. His experience navigating the challenges of reentry inspired him to work in criminal justice reform and community advocacy.
He now serves as the founder and executive director of the Recidivism Reduction Education Program Services(RREPS), an organisation focused on helping formerly incarcerated individuals reintegrate into society.
Reflecting on his journey, Pittman said his time in prison shaped his determination to create better opportunities for others leaving the correctional system.
“I did 11 and a half years inside of the prison system and when I came home, a lot of the support that individuals don’t have, I had,” he said in an interview reported by the The News & Observer. “A lot of my friends didn’t have that support.”
Transforming a Prison Into a Place of Opportunity
The former correctional facility spans 19 acres and had remained vacant for more than a decade before Pittman purchased the property.
Under his plan, the campus will house approximately 250 men at a time, each participating in a six-month programme designed to prepare them for life after incarceration.
Participants will receive both vocational and practical training aimed at helping them secure employment and build stable lives.
Training programmes will include certifications in fields such as:
- HVAC installation and maintenance
- Brick masonry
- Welding
- Plumbing
In addition to technical skills, participants will also learn everyday tasks many returning citizens struggle with after years behind bars, including modern financial tools like contactless payment systems.
Changing the Narrative Around Formerly Incarcerated Individuals
Pittman says the project is about more than job training, it is about shifting public perceptions of what formerly incarcerated individuals can achieve.
“It seemed like the perfect opportunity to take advantage of it and really change the narrative on what formerly incarcerated individuals are capable of,” he said in comments reported by Spectrum News.
Rather than using the space as a site of confinement, Pittman hopes the facility will represent freedom, personal growth, and opportunity.
Honouring the Facility’s History
Plans for the campus also include the creation of a small museum documenting the site’s history and the story behind Pittman’s transformation from inmate to reform advocate.
The exhibit will highlight the broader issue of mass incarceration and the importance of second chances.
Looking ahead, Pittman hopes the project can serve as a model for similar initiatives across the United States, turning former correctional spaces into community resources that support rehabilitation instead of punishment alone.
