By Erica Wright The Birmingham Times In Alabama, about a third of inmates return to jail within six or seven months of being released. During his campaign for office, Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway said he wanted to do something about those numbers—and he has. Shortly after becoming sheriff three years ago, Pettway launched the Renewed for Reentry Program, an initiative aimed at making Jefferson County jail inmates employable upon release. “Recidivism here is at a high rate, and we want to stop those inmates from repeating offenses and coming back to the county jail,” said Pettway. Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway. (Joe Songer, For The Birmingham Times)