Collin County Detention Facility is offering in-jail programs and classes to inmates in the hopes of reducing recidivism, where a person reoffends and commits a crime after being released, Inmate Program Coordinator Amy Larson said during a June open house for the programs. About 94% of inmates in Collin County’s jail have served time previously, she said.
The education programs not only improve public safety, but also the jail environment, Larson said.
“This is not being soft on crime,” said Johnny Jaquess, Collin County Detention Facility chief deputy assistant. “It’s a strategic way to have better outcomes and make your jail safer ... for the staff and for the inmates.”
Zooming in
Collin College has funded various life skills education courses for more than 100 inmates with the help of an Adult Education and Literacy grant provided by the Texas Workforce Commission, according to a June news release.
The in-jail classes are taught by Collin College professors and are part of the Sheriff's Convicted Offender Re-Entry Effort. The courses are designed for younger or first-time offenders and focus on personal growth, academic readiness and re-entry preparation, Collin College officials said.
The SCORE initiative is designed to help participants with cognitive and behavioral change by developing work ethic and promoting a structured lifestyle, according to jail officials.
“We don’t just guard inmates here, we lead and manage them, and that’s the difference,” Jaquess said. “That’s what separates Collin County from any jail in the United States.”
The rate of individuals reoffending and returning to prison within three years of release is 14.7% in Texas, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s biennial report.
Studies have shown that educational programs can reduce recidivism by 43%, Larson said. The Washington State Institute for Public Policy found that correctional education returns $5 for every $1 invested. This comes from reduced costs seen in fewer arrests, fewer court cases and lower costs for housing inmates, she said.
Collin County's jail also provides programs through the Veterans Assessing Lifelong Opportunities for Rehabilitation, or VALOR, which services incarcerated veterans with trauma. Cornbread Hustle provides inmates with a 12-step career-readiness training to help individuals transition from the prison system and gain work experience. The jail also offers Box Truck, which is an effort to provide inmates with skills in noncommercial delivery and financial literacy.
One more thing
Since April, Collin College has been offering practice GED exams to inmates with 60 male and female participants, a Collin College representative said. The college has began a series of structured classes, with different courses such as life skills.
Collin College is preparing to launch GED classes and job training in July for SCORE participants. New learners will be added to the program every two weeks.
"These programs help people re-enter society successfully," Larson said. "Investing in education behind bars is not just the right thing to do, it's a fiscally responsible strategy that improves public safety and strengthens communities."
