Dougherty Jail officials stress education, not re-incarceration

ALBANY — Nukemar Ansell Batten and Jamarcus Dreshon Boyd, inmates at the Dougherty County Jail, proudly received their GED diplomas during a graduation ceremony Wednesday at the jail.

“This is one of those great days. We don’t have them too often, so we like to celebrate them when we get them,” said Dougherty County Jail Director Col. John Ostrander. “Today we would like to award a couple of GED diplomas, which is a huge accomplishment.”

The jail’s GED program began in 2010. So far, 25 men and one woman have completed their high school education and earned an equivalency diploma while incarcerated.

Corp. Vivian Hunt, the jail’s inmate programs officer, oversees the GED education initiative. Inmates must be eligible to participate in the program and fill out a request form to enroll. Eligibility depends on several factors, including behavior, interest and the nature of the crime an inmate is incarcerated for.

“It is my job to get the guys in the GED program,” said Hunt. “When they come, they know it is about business in there. I stress that it is very important to get your lessons, because one day you’ll really appreciate it. These guys have been doing an excellent job over the year, and I am always encouraging them. I also really appreciate Batten, because he is coming back as a tutor, helping the others get their GEDs as well.”

Sheriff Kevin Sproul presented the diplomas to both Batten and Boyd, congratulating them and offering some advice.

“Guys, I am very proud of you,” said Sproul. “One of you indicated to me that about 10 months ago you started this program, and it takes a lot of effort and dedication to continue something you start and to finish it. I am very proud that you completed that. This is a great day for you, Nukemar, and for you, Jamarcus. You were already involved in the GED program when you were on the street, and then you were arrested and brought to jail and finished the program in about two months. That is an accomplishment. I am proud of you.”

No tax dollars are used to fund the jail’s GED program. It relies entirely on private donations for books, materials and other resources, as well as cooperation with Albany Technical College, which provides the instruction.

“We see so many men and women that get trapped inside the system,” said Sproul, “whether it is through drugs, gangs or some poor choice. They come to jail and as Col. Ostrander and his predecessor, and even my predecessor, used to say, we have got to break this vicious cycle. Recidivism is no good for anybody. It is a no-win situation. With the partnership of Dr. (Anthony) Parker, Albany Tech and the many men and women who have given funds for this program, we hope to break that cycle. We need education not re-incarceration.”

According to Ostrander, there are common issues that usually factor into re-incarceration.

“We have identified four specific reasons why people tend to come back to jail,” he said. “Substance abuse, of course, is a huge one. Mental illness is a huge reason, and we try to address each of those issues for people to whom those are a problem. Failure to connect with resources that are available in the community, whether it is that they don’t have adequate housing, they don’t have employment, they don’t have day care or they don’t have transportation (is another reason). If they don’t have the means to put together a meaningful life, then oftentimes they will end up re-offending and coming back into the institution. We try to affect that and help them connect with the resources in the community.

“The fourth reason is undereducation. When people don’t even have a high school diploma, it is very, very difficult for them to get employment so that they can earn a good living, raise a family and be a productive member of society. What we find is, the majority of the people that come into the jail don’t even have a high school diploma. That is what this program is all about.”

Batten and Boyd said they hope to continue their education when they get out of jail.