Reform Ranch in Prescott Changes Lives Across the Country
PRESCOTT -- Every year troubled boys from around the country leave a life of crime to attend a reform school right in our backyard.
Action news took a look at how a winding country road can lead to the straight and narrow.
Brice Paxson grew up near Los Angeles.
He dabbled in drugs, alcohol and was busted for stealing.
Brice's dad gave him a choice: juvenile hall or Jubilee Ranch.
He chose Jubilee, but just a week after he got to the ranch in Prescott, he stole a car and ended up in juvy anyway.
"Reality check right there. I was in Juvy just sitting questioning all my ideals and actions that brought me to this point," says Brice.
Jubilee gave him a second chance and he's stuck with it.
Now the only time Brice gets high is running up this steep hill.
It's a punishment for getting in trouble.
"It's definitely an incentive not to get in trouble!" Says Brice.
But Jubilee is about more than negative reinforcement.
Students who behave themselves get to come out every Sunday and play paintball.
The kids all have jobs on work crews.
They work together to irrigate fields, build things, or prepare food.
With hard work and better behavior students are given more privileges and responsibilities.
They eventually help teach and lead the newcomers.
"What we'd really like to instill is how do you help give back what you've learned. We'd love for you to learn lots of skills. But how do you use that leadership to give back to others who may not have as much?" Says Rick Griffin, the President of Jubilee Ranch.
And most kids don't have as much.
Many grew up in the inner city and find that a little country elbow grease goes a long way.
They even help train horses.
"It helps the kids a lot it takes patience to learn to be around a horse and learn safety. It takes discipline," says Jamal Johnson who runs both the horse program and a program where students take care of abandoned dogs to prepare them for adoption.
Brice Paxson has gotten the message.
He arrived at Jubilee a year behind in school, but is now graduating a year early.
He hopes to one day become a counselor to help kids who've faced similar struggles and need to straighten up.
The Jubilee Ranch is privately funded.
Tuition is on a sliding scale.
Most parents pay about $300 a month to have a child there but it costs the ranch a lot more per student.
Jubilee is now working on a welding shop where students could work to raise money for the ranch and build job skills for themselves.
Action news took a look at how a winding country road can lead to the straight and narrow.
Brice Paxson grew up near Los Angeles.
He dabbled in drugs, alcohol and was busted for stealing.
Brice's dad gave him a choice: juvenile hall or Jubilee Ranch.
He chose Jubilee, but just a week after he got to the ranch in Prescott, he stole a car and ended up in juvy anyway.
"Reality check right there. I was in Juvy just sitting questioning all my ideals and actions that brought me to this point," says Brice.
Jubilee gave him a second chance and he's stuck with it.
Now the only time Brice gets high is running up this steep hill.
It's a punishment for getting in trouble.
"It's definitely an incentive not to get in trouble!" Says Brice.
But Jubilee is about more than negative reinforcement.
Students who behave themselves get to come out every Sunday and play paintball.
The kids all have jobs on work crews.
They work together to irrigate fields, build things, or prepare food.
With hard work and better behavior students are given more privileges and responsibilities.
They eventually help teach and lead the newcomers.
"What we'd really like to instill is how do you help give back what you've learned. We'd love for you to learn lots of skills. But how do you use that leadership to give back to others who may not have as much?" Says Rick Griffin, the President of Jubilee Ranch.
And most kids don't have as much.
Many grew up in the inner city and find that a little country elbow grease goes a long way.
They even help train horses.
"It helps the kids a lot it takes patience to learn to be around a horse and learn safety. It takes discipline," says Jamal Johnson who runs both the horse program and a program where students take care of abandoned dogs to prepare them for adoption.
Brice Paxson has gotten the message.
He arrived at Jubilee a year behind in school, but is now graduating a year early.
He hopes to one day become a counselor to help kids who've faced similar struggles and need to straighten up.
The Jubilee Ranch is privately funded.
Tuition is on a sliding scale.
Most parents pay about $300 a month to have a child there but it costs the ranch a lot more per student.
Jubilee is now working on a welding shop where students could work to raise money for the ranch and build job skills for themselves.
More to Explore
Learn about changes coming to commenting