BEAUMONT, Texas — Two Southeast Texas organizations are working together to give former inmates a second chance.
They are helping people connect with free construction job training certifications.
12News caught up with a student who says the program has given him a reason to stay on the right path.
Clients in the program say the classes and job resources provide structure and a reason to not reoffend.
"I've been to prison twice. I got a 10-year-old little girl. I'm good. I tried, my way it ain't work," said Josh Briscoe, a client.
Briscoe says the only thing his addiction lead to, was a jail cell. So he decided to make a change.
"Just 13 years of addiction. I got three years sober. It got old," Briscoe said.
The turning point for Briscoe came when he couldn't afford his bond.
"I got caught up whenever my bond was $75,000 and I said woah, I don't have $75,000. I ain't have $7,500 for the bond company. That was scary. Charges got dropped. I got my last chance," he said.
Another client, Justin Gautreaux also found himself in trouble.
"This last time it was a motion to revoke my probation. I first had it for state jail felony criminal mischief. I just quit reporting I don't know what I was thinking," Gautreaux said.
His catalyst for change came after he experienced a loss.
"I lost someone that was very important to me because of my lifestyle. Before I went in," said Gautreaux.
Now, the Pitzer Family Education Foundation is offering them a second chance.
"There's a lot of crime in our area. And there's a lot of folks that don't have that support when they get out of jail," said Program Coordinator Marsha Pitzer.
The organization partners with the Associated Builders and Contractors Training Academy in Nederland to get former offenders certified in trades.
"So core, industrial carpentry, wielding, scaffold builder, electrical, pipe fitting and instrumentation," said Pitzer. "It's 10 weeks to three years. Two to four days a week it's depending on the class that you're going to go to."
All you need is an ID and a $75 that you will get back at the end of the course. Briscoe has 90 days left in the industrial carpentry class.
"Schools, my daily dose of medicine that keeps me sober," Briscoe said.
Meanwhile Gautreaux just signed up for classes and looks forward to starting his journey.
"I hope that it gives me structure. It gives me a good trade. So that I can be fiscally responsible. And then start earning money that I can put towards my passion which is cooking," said Gautreaux.
You have until December 12 to register in person. The first semester of classes start on January 6.