Дочь ждет освобождения матери из тюрьмы: путь через программу пожарных и вызовы возвращения в общество

Daughter reflects on mother’s journey ahead of release from Ga. prison fire program AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - For six years, Lola Cohen has held onto photos of her mother, Tiffany Cooke. According to Cohen, she was incarcerated in 2020 for drug-related offenses. Around that time, Cohen helped raise her siblings. Now, days away from her mother’s release, Cohen is reflecting on her journey. “Well, I was already becoming a mom. I had my first child when I initially got custody of them,” Cohen said. “So it was a big transition, but I was always there for them anyways. It was stressful, of course, teenagers and a newborn, but I wouldn’t have changed it.” Cohen said she is looking forward to her mother’s return. “I’m excited for her to come home and see a change, hopefully in our family dynamic and more for my siblings. They really need her right now,” Cohen said. Transformation through fire program As Cohen prepares for her newest child, more than 100 miles away, her mother has gone through her own transformation as part of the Lee Arrendale State Prison all-women fire team. According to the Georgia Department of Corrections, is the only all-female firefighter station in the nation. “When she got picked for the prison fire station, I saw nothing but like every week something new,” Cohen said. “Something new she realized, something new she felt. She’s worked very hard, not only mentally but physically as well.” Cooke earned Fire One and Fire Two certifications. “She actually really loves doing it, like she’s gone into gorges and rescue people from in the water,” said Cohen. “She’s helped airlift people out of there.” Challenges ahead after release Dr. Charlotte Garnes, with ReNForce in Augusta, said systemic barriers remain for formerly incarcerated individuals seeking employment. “We’re still fighting a system within Georgia itself of people post-release having challenges of finding sustainable employment and livable wages,” Garnes said. Garnes said she has worked with the Georgia Justice Project on Senate Bill 207, which focuses on occupational licensing. “Which in her role could benefit her, because she’s gone through that certification and she can also receive a certification post-release or outside,” Garnes said in relation to Cooke’s situation. Garnes said employment is often not the main struggle for people reentering their communities. “What we have to remember is like people aren’t reentering communities. They’re reentering relationships,” Garnes said. “The quality of those relationships can help change trajectories.” Community support After Cohen posted on Facebook asking for help, a wave of support came her way. As she prepares to pick her mother up from prison, Cohen said she is grateful for how their relationship has grown. “It’s really hard to forgive people, especially those close to you when they hurt you,” Cohen said. “But if you can stick it out and try to help them help themselves, giving that chance actually can end up bringing a light out of something awful.” According to Cohen, Cooke will be rleased from Lee Arrendale State Prison on Friday, September 4. News 12 plans to meet with Tiffany Cooke for a formal interview after her release. Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.