GREENFIELD — Changing Lives Though Literature, an alternative sentencing option that offers those on probation reduced sentences upon completion of a 10-week literature program, is inspiring many of its graduates to pursue higher education.

The program aims to reduce recidivism, inspiring those involved with the criminal justice system to write a new chapter through weekly meetings with probation officers, judges and Greenfield Community College staff to discuss assigned literature.

Since Judge Laurie MacLeod, retired Judge Mary-Lou Rup and Franklin County Superior Court Chief Probation Officer Sheila Moriarty brought Changing Lives Through Literature to Franklin County in 2015, 75 probationers — including 10 who graduated on Nov. 14 — have successfully completed the program. Many have gone on to enroll at GCC.

“Nothing makes me happier than when I learn that a participant in Changing Lives Through Literature has enrolled at GCC,” MacLeod said during the November graduation ceremony.

The effort, part of a national program that first took shape in New Bedford in 1991, is spearheaded locally by GCC, Franklin County Superior Court, and the district courts of Greenfield and Orange. Since its beginnings, the idea has spread to 12 states, as well as Manchester, England.

Greenfield resident Josh Gralenski, who was on probation after being convicted of larceny and breaking and entering, said he joined the program during the last two months of his probation because he was intrigued by its social elements. He said 10 weeks of reading John Freeman’s selection of short stories and essays, called “Tales of Two Americas: Stories of Inequality in a Divided Nation,” changed his viewpoint on literature, as well as the judges and probation officers with whom he read it.

Gralenski plans to enroll in GCC classes in February. He said he developed a sense of camaraderie with his fellow participants, along with the participating officers and judges. He specifically mentioned program facilitator and GCC Social Sciences Department Chair Brian Kapitulik as one of the highlights.

“I was a little bit nervous going into it, just the idea of being around all these judges and probation officers, but once we got in there, we didn’t have any pressure to read out loud or raise our hands, and we weren’t forced to share anything. We had some really interesting discussions,” said Gralenski, 38. “It really changed my point of view on probation officers and judges, and I hope it changed their point of view on us.

“Most people that end up in the system don’t particularly care for probation officers or judges or feel they were treated unfairly,” Gralenski continued. “After this program and getting to meet them, we got that they’re human, too, and make mistakes and they saw that we’re human, too. … Now I feel like I can see one of them in a grocery store and walk up, say ‘Hi’ and carry on a conversation.”

In a statement, Kapitulik said that building a sense of empathy and unity, with the goal of reducing recidivism, is one of the literature program’s main objectives. He also remarked that this year’s graduating class was double the size of last year’s.

“The whole idea is to use the transformative power of literature to cultivate empathy, foster connection and support rehabilitation,” Kapitulik said. “It’s about identifying what we share in common and bringing people together across life experiences.”

Another program graduate, Athol resident Nicole Cassarino, 34, who was convicted of driving while intoxicated, said although she was already an avid reader, sitting down with judges and probation officers to discuss literature encouraged her to enroll in classes at GCC in January. Noting that she is a recovering alcoholic, Cassarino said she hopes to begin a career in addiction recovery support.

“When you meet [judges and officers] and you’re not in a courtroom, it’s a different kind of a feeling, like a different atmosphere you’re in with them. We’re all reading the same story, and then we went in there, and it was just like we were all the same. ... It was awesome to see how their insight was different from our insight because of what they know,” Cassarino said. “You have judges and probation officers, and then you have us, and in that room, you all feel like you’re the same, equal person. I think it gives a lot of people an opportunity, and with me, it gave me an insight of going back to school.”

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.