Former inmates graduate

An unusual graduation took place in Santa Barbara on Thursday.

Dozens of former state prison inmates took part in a commencement ceremony put on by the Day Reporting Center (DRC) in Santa Barbara.

They gathered at the Unitarian Society to celebrate their life-changing hard work.

District Attorney Joyce Dudley, Sheriff Bill Brown and Supervisor Janet Wolf were on hand to congratulate them.

Former graduates also offered words on encouragement. Larry Davidson said the center offers a support system that many inmates didn’t have before getting in trouble with the law. Davidson said they help people with housing, job searches and support groups.

The DRC is operated by the nonprofit Community Solutions.

The Santa Barbara Reentry Steering Committee is committed to making the graduates make it in society.

After the ceremony, grads showed off their medals and took pictures with their friends and loved ones.