At Overhaul-Unrelenting Transfiguration (O-UT), we believe incarceration can be a turning point—a catalyst for lasting change. Founded by Ginny Burton, whose own journey through incarceration and recovery inspires our work, O-UT is a 26-week reentry program that equips individuals with the tools to rebuild their lives, stabilize critical areas, and create futures worth living. Operating within Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) facilities like Olympic Corrections Center and remotely in community settings, we’ve served over 185 students since 2022, transforming not just lives but communities.

What We Do: A Pathway to Transformation

O-UT is more than a program—it’s a movement rooted in accountability, self-discovery, and service. Our 26-week curriculum, delivered in small cohorts of about 20 students, guides participants through 10 modules designed to address the root causes of destructive behaviors and build sustainable pathways forward. From in-person sessions in prisons to virtual support for reentry centers like Reynolds, we meet students where they are.

• Self-Discovery: Through workbook exercises and group discussions, students identify personal patterns, confront past choices, and develop self-awareness. As student Ben shared, “The O-UT Program has empowered me to change in ways I didn’t know were possible, because the questions afforded me the lens through which to deconstruct.”
• Accountability: Our rigorous curriculum and participant contract emphasize commitment—regular attendance, sobriety, and professional conduct. Students like Clinton Howe move toward careers as an underwater welder. After multiple sentences, he’s abstinent, in recovery, and reengaged with family—crime-free and thriving.
• Service: Mandatory service activities, from mentoring to community volunteering, foster connection and purpose. These acts of giving back are transformative, as students rebuild trust and contribute to their communities.
• Support: One-on-one case management, alumni support groups, and partnerships for housing, employment, education, and recovery ensure no student walks alone. We’ve helped students secure jobs, reunite with families, and maintain recovery.

Our comprehensive approach—rooted in Ginny’s lived experience and supported by a dedicated team including Marymorgan Vegdahl-Crowell, Jordan Jaquez, and Becky Carver—addresses 21 life domains, from housing to mental health, ensuring holistic growth.

The Impact: Lives Changed, Communities Strengthened

O-UT’s results speak volumes:

• <5% Recidivism: So far only 1 student has reoffended but is working to return to Olympic Correction Center to recommit to the program.
• 90% Improvement: 80–90% of students show strengthened deficit areas, from employment to family relationships.
• 100% Stability: Engaged graduates achieve stability in housing, employment, and recovery.

These numbers reflect real stories. Ben, an Olympic Corrections Center graduate, noted, “I feel securely equipped to reenter my community as a source of strength and restoration rather than a cancer causing death, destruction, and chaos.” Tone Williams, after 12 years of incarceration, found clarity: “This program has helped me become a better human… I plan to take the lessons and relationships into the future.”

Our students don’t just change—they inspire. They volunteer, mentor others, and rebuild families, proving that transformation is possible with the right support.

Our Students: The Heart of O-UT

O-UT students are diverse, resilient, and committed. They include parents seeking to reconnect with children, repeat offenders breaking cycles, and individuals overcoming addiction or trauma. Our program meets them with empathy and rigor, guiding them through self-assessment, goal-setting, and action planning. Matt Purifoy, an O-UT graduate thriving after multiple prison sentences. Now a welder fabricator for the railroad, Matt’s preparing to study political science at University of Washington and pursue law school. Abstinent, in recovery, and reengaged with family, he’s crime-free and building a bright future.

We celebrate their milestones—securing a job, earning a GED, or simply choosing accountability over blame. These victories ripple outward, strengthening communities across Washington.

Looking Ahead: A Call to Support Transformation

Despite our impact, O-UT faces challenges. In May 2025, the DOC announced it would not renew community partnership contracts, including ours, due to budget constraints, redirecting funds to internal resources. While we respect this decision, we know vendor programs like O-UT—with proven outcomes—play a vital role in reducing recidivism and fostering community safety.

We’re actively seeking new partnerships and funding to continue serving more than 200 students in 2025, hoping to expand to facilities like Cedar Creek and Stafford Creek, and launching webinars to reach more communities.

You can help. Whether through donations, volunteer opportunities, or advocacy, your support ensures O-UT can keep transforming lives. Together, we can prove that every individual deserves a chance to create a life worth living.

Join us. Support O-UT. Change lives.

Contact us at ginny@o-ut.org or visit our website www.o-ut.org to learn how you can get involved.

O-UT is a woman-owned program dedicated to equity and transformation. Since 2022, we’ve empowered students to rewrite their stories, and with your help, we’ll keep going.