Marietta woman gives female inmates a new beginning

MABLETON - Carol Hicks is hoping to give former inmates of the Cobb County jail a new start in life through discipline, clean living and faith in God. <br> <br> She founded New Beginnings Ministries, a program for women 18 and older who are seeking to change their lives when they get out of jail. Six women are currently in the program. <br> <br> The county gives freed inmates a list of programs that can help, but Hicks said she gets to know the women before they are released, providing a more tangible option for those who want to change their life. <br> <br> Hicks&#39; church, Christ Abundant Life Ministries, let her use a house next door. Known as the Glory House, the two-bedroom home houses the six women, all of whom have struggled with drug addiction. <br> <br> Hicks said, ``That&#39;s exactly how New Beginnings started. Jail is not a rehabilitation process. When they come out, most women feel hopeless and lost, so they end up back in jail.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> After the women get jobs, they will begin paying $75 a week in rent. For now, Hicks and her husband depend on donations and their own money to buy food, clothing and pay utility bills for the women. <br> <br> She said she spends about $1,000 a month on New Beginnings, a venture that has replaced her former job as a saleswoman, but hopes to have the residents contribute more in the future once the program gets established. <br> <br> In addition to working, the residents must follow some rules that include no drugs or alcohol, no profanity, a 10 p.m. curfew, Bible study and recovery meetings. <br> <br> Hicks said the goal is for women to stay in the program for six months, although they can be released earlier or allowed to stay longer if needed.