Terrell CI educational programs offer opportunities for inmates

DAWSON — The Terrell County Correctional Institute is holding a graduation ceremony Saturday for inmates participating in either academic or trade skill training courses.

The educational and training programs are offered to inmates as incentive for good behavior and provide not only academic-based curriculum, but also lessons in basic life skills — such as how to write a resume or how to dress for a job interview — necessary to find gainful employment after release from jail, according to Deputy Warden Lavern Richardson.

“When I came to the prison in 2015, we didn’t have any type of programs,” Richardson said. “The training I have, I brought to Terrell CI. Now, through a partnership with Piedmont College in Calhoun, Georgia, we are teaching inmates up to doctoral programs. I have six inmates that are graduating Saturday with their associate’s degree in Biblical studies in theology. We also have a high school GED program. Albany Tech provides us an instructor for GED classes, and we have four inmates that are graduating from that program on Saturday.”

According to Richardson, Terrell CI features a work-based reform program, so any educational classes that inmates participate in can only be undertaken after regular work hours and are done on a voluntary basis.

“The programs we are honoring are the programs that inmates must volunteer for,” Richardson said. “We are honoring the ones who have gone above and beyond to accomplish their goals. Now all of this happens after their daily work is done. We are a work camp, so they come to class after hours when they come off detail. That shows even more determination, because they have already worked all day before they can do their studies.”

According to Richardson, in addition to a variety of academic programs, other training courses such as firefighter certification, heavy equipment operator and CPR training are available to the inmates.

“We have our own fire station, and now we have four firefighters who are certified,” Richardson said. “The certification is the same certification that firefighters get outside of prison. They are fully qualified. We are also providing CPR training, infant child CPR training and courses in heavy equipment operation. Some of these jobs pay a lot of money.

“The idea is to reduce recidivism. We don’t want them to come back to jail. We have one man that graduated out of the program who now works downtown. He has a good job now. He has opportunities to be a productive member of society. He never had that before. I saw him a while back, and he thanked me. He told me his daddy was a drug dealer, his brother was a drug dealer, and before he met me, that was all he knew. We are providing these people with skills that they would not otherwise have. If they can get a good job when they get out of jail, chances are they are not coming back.”

Richardson said education programs are funded by a state grant.

“Whenever you have a certain amount of students in the GED program, the state provides funding. They gave me $25,000,” Richardson said. “We have used that money, along with inmate labor, to build a classroom. This really helps with the educational process. The inmates have a place to go that is not in the visitation area with all of those distractions. They feel more like they are in an atmosphere of learning.

“I tell the inmates, ‘The major thing when you place a job application is having a high school diploma or GED.’ I tell them, ‘If I can get you educated, that is something that nobody can take from you. That is a step up for you when you go back out into society. You will have a little bit more under your belt.’ If they get their GED, then they can take my re-entry class. I teach re-entry into society. I teach them how to write a resume or how to dress for a job interview. I try to teach them the basic life skills they will need to get a good job and, hopefully, not come back to jail.”

According to Richardson, graduation is Saturday at 5 p.m. and will be held at the Terrell County Governmental Building in Dawson, located at 955 Forrester Drive.

“We will have State Rep. Gerald Greene as our speaker,” Richardson said. “The CEOs of Piedmont College will be present to award associate’s degrees to students, and staff from Albany Tech will be awarding our GED grads.”

For more information about the Terrell CI educational programs or graduation details, contact Richardson at (229) 310-1075.