Calipatria State Prison holds graduation ceremony for inmates

Calipatria State Prison is helping inmates earn their GED and become contributing members in the community when they’re released.

For inmate Ashton Lyons, his life took a turn for the worse when he committed a crime that left him serving 25 years in prison.

Lyons said, “Some friends and I decided that we were going to rob a place. We end up getting arrested for it and getting sent to prison.”

Now he’s graduating with two associate degrees and is looking forward to a new chapter in his life.

“The foundation of everything that I’ve accomplished so far and it also inspires me to do better than I have already,” said Lyons.

Sandra Macias, principal of the Education Program at the Calipatria State Prison, said helping inmates get an education opens doors for them.

“They see life in another perspective. Eventually, they’re going to go home. So it is very important that they start their education foundation so they continue to be on the right path. So when they go home, they can go back and integrate into the community. Being good parents. Being good husbands. Being community members,” said Macias.

An academic teacher, Adriana Veysey, said an inmate getting a GED helps battle stigmas against those who’ve been behind bars.

“Nothing can repair that in a quicker fashion than be able to tell someone ‘While I was incarcerated, I became a college graduate. I completed my diploma. I took self-help programs’,” said Veysey.

Lyons said that he’ll earn every chance to prove he’s been rehabilitated.

“I want to show that I’m worthy of a second chance. And I’m ready to take that step,” added Lyons.

Calipatria State Prison plans on helping more inmates graduate from the program later this Summer.