YOU WOULD THINK that the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, which is the current home of serial killer Ed Kemper and the former residence of Charles Manson, would be bereft of hope.

But on Thursday, 58 people incarcerated at the state prison proved otherwise when they received their diplomas during a celebratory graduation ceremony in the prison gymnasium. These graduates had just completed a rigorous Cognitive Behavioral Interventions program to help prepare them for life within and outside the prison.

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A graduate student at the Craig Newmark School of Journalism in New York City and a retired physician, Josephine brings a unique perspective to health and science reporting. She's also eager to expand her skills in audio journalism and long-form storytelling.