Turning jailhouse to schoolhouse
Inmates able to earn job-skills certificates, GEDs
Noah Haglund
The Post and Courier
David Drake, 18, receives a graduation equivalency diploma from Damon L. Fordham at the Charleston County Detention Center on Wednesday. Fordham is the site manager for Trident Literacy Association's GED program at the jail.
Sharon Rodger wants everyone to know that she hasn't wasted her time at the Charleston County jail.
In fact, the 29-year-old inmate hopes to leave soon with something that could advance her career: a certificate from a job-skills program that the Trident Literacy Association put in place this year. She was one of 11 female inmates who passed exams on applied math, reading and other skills.
"It's a good program, keeps you busy," said Rodger, her proud smile a cheerful contrast to her gray uniform.
Before cocaine use got her into trouble, she worked as a machinist. After a court date next week, she said she might be able to leave jail and secure a better position in the same field.
The program, WorkKeys, was developed by a the ACT nonprofit organization and is used throughout the nation. It measures real-world skills that are valuable to employers. The certificate shows that a job-seeker has skills and is ready to work.
The program can be completed in as little as a month. Graduates earn one of three credentials — bronze, silver and gold — depending on scores and aptitude.
Forty other women were enrolled as of last week, and Trident Literacy hopes that 100 will have earned certificates by early next year, Executive Director Eileen Chepenik said.
On Wednesday, jail staff led reporters on a tour to showcase the WorkKeys and a separate program for graduation equivalency diplomas, or GEDs.
There is a link between a person's education and the likelihood of winding up in jail. A snapshot of the South Carolina's more than 23,000 prison inmates from last year shows that 59 percent did not have a high school diploma or GED, according to the State Department of Corrections Web site.
Chief Deputy Mitch Lucas, the Charleston County jail administrator, said the programs help inmates improve self esteem while in jail and job prospects once they leave. The effort also makes the jail population easier to manage. The jail does not spend any money on either program, he said, while the literacy association does all the work.
Lucas said 17 inmates have earned GEDs while in the lockup. Though Trident Literacy has been working at the jail for years, inmates have been able to earn certificates only since last year.
Jonathan Stanley was one of four men who received a diploma during a presentation Wednesday. The 24-year-old, serving time for not paying child support, had grown up in Chicago, then moved to North Charleston in his teens. He last attended North Charleston High School in 11th grade.
Dressed in a striped jumpsuit with GED in hand, Stanley spoke enthusiastically of attending a two-year college and even getting a law degree after his expected release in October: "I don't ever want to come back here."
Reach Noah Haglund at 937-5550 or nhaglund@postandcourier.com
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Comments
This article has 18 comment(s)
Posted by ForPnC on July 5, 2008 at 4:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I do hope the both of you can turn your lives around and make a great living for yourselves. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't!
Posted by nurse7798 on July 5, 2008 at 7:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well.. I am proud of all the effort these people are putting in.. NOW lets see some employers hire them.. alot want CLEAN criminal backgrounds now... that SLED check kills alot of us out there trying to get work. I have some minor misdemenor things.. like a bounced check or two, and often get the door slammed shut in my face. I have been looking for work in my field for a year now and all I can do is waitress. Go from a high paying job to that is a hard reality..... So.... if young people haven't messed up yet, DON'T.. keep your life straight. For thoes who are struggling, keep trying. Someone out there will give you a break...... Seriously though these employers have to realize things happen and people mess up. Giving someone a chance is a good thing ususally. Do the drug screenings and kep thier eyes open but if someone has a job and is responsible at it makes for a better chance they will stay out of trouble.
Posted by drp7773 on July 5, 2008 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
^5 CB,,,,,,,,was just about to type the same thing..
Posted by hartley8184 on July 5, 2008 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To Nurse7798: Regarding the issue of employers being "understanding that people mess up"; that is true, but unfortunately, there are not enough jobs available for all the job seekers out there with perfectly clean records, let alone those who have a few blemishes. If you are a waitress now, it sounds as though someone DID give you a chance. I assume you were previously a nurse with a high paying job who wound up with a record for bounced checks. I think you had to let bounced checks slide and slide for a long time before you end up in front of a judge. Getting a record for bounced checks takes some "effort." So, as a hospital HR guy, I would seriously look at that issue as I'm sorting through stacks of resumes from nurses who have no problems with the law. But, I wish you luck. Hopefully you have identified all the personal issues here that led to this and dealt with them. We all make mistakes... and quite often, we have to live with the consequences for them forever. King David was a godly man, nevertheless, he lived with the consequences of his earlier crimes for the rest of his life, and his sons suffered for them too.
Posted by hartley8184 on July 5, 2008 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think one of the problems with this country is that somehow we've established that work is a "right", when it ought to be an "obligation." Since this government seems determined to do everything it can to foster criminality in the populace... by doing everything imaginable to undermine children and the family... it would seem logical to make arrangements to put prisons to work in some useful fashion.
Posted by scienceguy on July 5, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hartley8184:
It's a lot easier to get arrested and prosecuted for bouncing a check than you may think. Sit in Municipal Court for a day or two and you will see what I mean. And in any event, this is not the type of crime that should preclude a nurse from practicing her profession.
The question I have for you is whether you think we can continue to spend so much money locking up people for petty stuff. Read http://www.motherjones.com/news/special_... to see what I mean. At the rate we are going, all of us who are outside the jails will all be working weekends just to feed the inmates. As for me, I would like to try some alternative approaches. Warehousing people does not seem to be working too well except for the folks who are building the jails.
Posted by drp7773 on July 5, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lets see, if you have 5.00 in the bank and you write a 25.00 check mmmmmm is it just because you wanted what you couldn't afford, or maybe you are not to bright to do a check book, and if it's the latter can we trust you to fill a needle with the right medicine or right amount before you inject it in someones arm. And what about the shop keeper that you wrote the bad check, he has to spend a lot of time and money trying to get back whats due him (bank fees, lawyer fees etc.), and in the end if he can't get back the money then guess who pays for it. But since prison is not working lets ummm maybe cane the hell out of them, no wait some people like pain...dang just cant win well lets just let the professionals make a new disorder for this and let them just keep writing bad checks hell they may even be able to move under a bridge in the end and keep all the other people with disorders warm.
Posted by hartley8184 on July 5, 2008 at 11:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You have a good point about jails, science guy. But, my take on that is this: in a society that actively promotes the dysfunctionality for the sake of self gratification and individualism, we either need to get busy building lots of prisons, go back to using non-penal forms of punishment more often, or wait until the public decides to go back to vigilantee behaviour to supplement the courts.
Posted by scienceguy on July 5, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hartley8184:
I am not sure waht you mean by the phrase "in a society that actively promotes the dysfunctionality for the sake of self gratification and individualism." But I think we are at the point where "we either need to get busy building lots of prisons or "go back to using non-penal forms of punishment more often," Hopefully we will not devolve to a point where the public decides to go back to vigilantee behaviour to supplement the courts."
Posted by AndyT on July 5, 2008 at 4:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would definitely have to agree that this country is horrible when it comes to prisons and punishment. Getting an education for free, living off of the tax payers while being able to watch pay per view in the jail cell is crap. There was a guy recently on death row for killing several people. The execution was held up because he said that the chemicals that were injected into his body hurt. I would love to be able to ask his victims if the suspect had that much compassion when he killed them. So he continued to live for free, get educated because this country is so scared of terrorist groups like the NAACP, Rainbow Push. It’s a joke.
The money used to pamper these dirt bags could hire more detention officers; raise their pay for baby sitting. The Sheriff out west that makes them wear pink and live in tents should run for president!
This is a complete waste of money. These people need to not break the law and get an education like all of the upstanding citizens that work for what they have and don't expect handouts.
Posted by KidYendor on July 5, 2008 at 5:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think education in jails is a good thing to do instead of having people just sitting around. Mitch Lucas is getting some good out of the CCJ. This is in sharp contrast to Berkeley County's Hill Finklea Detention Center where behaving prisoners are treated cruelly because of group punishment. There is no self esteem when one prisoner messes up and everyone is punished. A bad prisoner should be placed in solitary for a few days. It is a horrid place to be and the Governor should make changes.
Posted by hartley8184 on July 6, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hi ScienceGuy, What I mean is that America is too busy destroying itself to be constructive. We live in an anti-family, anti-child society that places it's highest value on rebellion and individual pleasure...which is tantamount to saying we live in a society that is bent on destroying itself.
Posted by hartley8184 on July 6, 2008 at 10:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think that we should identify products and goods that can be manufactured by prison labor entirely. We could start with looking at all the cheap discount trinkets and impulse items that we currently import from China and other countries for sale in discount stores and flea markets. Or certain stuff done predominately by illegal aliens.
Then we find companies willing to contract with the government to build factories, farms and plants to employ them. Then we put the convicts to work for 12 hours a day, 5 days a week minimum, with an option for a 6th day shift. We pay them minimum wage rates. We deduct by withholding for their food, their cell and their other upkeep like clothes and medical care, and up to 10 percent of each check in restitution. The incentive is increased because they get better food and they get a little better cellblock to live in for their money. Not much, but it will seem like much from what they had before. Whatever is left goes into their savings which they can access electronically under controlled circumstances. If they work, they can buy educational and counseling services and other benefits. They can pay for visits from family. If they don't work, they get basic food and a basic cell but the costs are borne by "taxing" the earnings of working prisoners. Heavy pressure is put on non-workers to conform, ESPECIALLY by working convicts. The prisoners are bombarded constantly with propaganda about the ethos of work, the joy of productivity, etc.
At the social level, this country has changed from a can do country to a hand-wringing indecisive mob. Everything is impossible at the political level, because of endless debate and argument about every single issue, no matter how obvious the solution is. This prison thing ought to be a no-brainer. Stop enabling these people to be what they've been all their lives. Stop the perpetuation of rebellion and stubborness. Break their immature attitudes and replace them with something better.
And, if we can't do this, than we deserve what we are going to get.
Posted by scienceguy on July 6, 2008 at 4:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hartley8184:
I do not get the sense that I "live in an anti-family, anti-child society that places it's highest value on rebellion and individual pleasure." Rather, I think that we live in a society that allows politicians to ignore empirical evidence and to engage in pandering to those who scream the loudest.
BTW, we already have a prison industry system similar to what you suggest. And we pay the inmates--when we pay them at all--far less than minimum wage. The problem is that this savings is not passed along to the taxpayer and the inmates do not learn skils that are marketable after their release.
Posted by hartley8184 on July 6, 2008 at 7:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh I agree scienceguy. We live in an anti-family society full of hyper-individualism and politicians who pander to the mob and buy the peoples' votes with the peoples' own money.
Posted by jeff61 on July 6, 2008 at 7:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why does the P&C write about Sharon Rodger and Jonathan Stanley but yet shows a picture of two other cue balls dressed in convict looking attire.
Posted by scienceguy on July 6, 2008 at 8:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hartley8184:
Depending on how one defines family, I may or may not agree that "We live in an anti-family society." I definitely agree that politicians "pander to the mob and buy the peoples' votes with the peoples' (sic) own money."
So why can't we objectively examine whether the program discussed in this article is cost-effective and, if so, replicate it?
Posted by hartley8184 on July 8, 2008 at 11:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We live in an anti-family, anti-child society no matter how you define "family."