At just 18, Kerwin Pittman found himself facing the challenges of life behind bars due to a conspiracy to commit murder. However, after spending 11 and a half years incarcerated, including a year in solitary confinement, he emerged with a renewed sense of purpose. Now, eight years after his release, he is making history as the first former inmate to purchase a prison in the United States.
Following his release, Pittman dedicated himself to advocating for social justice, establishing the Recidivism Reduction Educational Program Services, Inc. (RREPS), a nonprofit aimed at supporting individuals who have been incarcerated in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Through RREPS, he has created a positive impact in the community, helping to reduce re-offending rates and providing a range of essential services.
Pittman has developed a variety of programs, including an anti-recidivism hotline and mentorship opportunities, along with a mobile recidivism reduction center. This innovative bus travels to those in need, offering resources for housing, employment, mental health care, and much more. The message on the bus, “Recidivism Reduction Center,” boldly represents his commitment to changing lives.
Now, Pittman is embarking on an exciting new project: the Recidivism Reduction Campus, a facility designed for housing and job training for formerly incarcerated individuals, located on…
