Hope Behind Bars: How Some in Okaloosa County are Igniting Change Tricia Elliott January 5, 2026 9:15 am Charities and Nonprofits, Crime, Okaloosa County In Brief: Who: James Ferguson, Dana Clah, Emerald Coast Life Center, Okaloosa County Jail inmates What: An intensive, trauma-informed recovery and reentry program When: Ongoing, with participants completing up to 1,700 hours of coursework Where: Okaloosa County Jail, with reentry support in the surrounding community Why: To break the cycle of trauma, addiction, and incarceration through healing and accountability James Ferguson entered the Okaloosa County Jail facing a range of charges, from traffic violations to drug-related offenses. His life spiraled. Hospital visits, addiction, and jail stays seemed like the only future ahead of him. What Ferguson needed was more than incarceration — he needed help. Help to overcome addiction. Help to confront long-standing trauma. Help him get his life back on track. Inside the Okaloosa County Jail, a group of inmates is spending their mornings not watching television or passing the time, but studying, writing essays, and learning how to rebuild their lives. The effort is part of the Anchored program, operated by Emerald Coast Life Center (ECLC), a nonprofit founded by Dana Clah that focuses on helping underserved, justice-involved individuals — particularly those struggling with opioid addiction — prepare for reentry into society. “This isn’t about just doing time,” Clah said. “It’s about doing healthy time.” The Anchored program operates in its own jail dorm, which participants refer to as a “study dorm,”...
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