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    INMATE PROGRAMMING
             Lt. Robert Hungerford

          The Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Division of Corrections currently offers one of the most extensive inmate programming curriculums found in Ohio’s County Jails, supported by a wide use of volunteers throughout the area. 
        Why is such programming critical to Lake County?   A quick look at inmate demographics nationwide illustrates the problems we are faced with.
·       There are 2.3 million people incarcerated in our prisons and jails today in the United States, as well as an additional 6 million persons on
       Probation and Parole.  Totaled, that is more people then in college or above in the United States.
·       There are 33% more mentally ill people in our jails and prisons today then there are in our mental
       hospitals.  Further, 16% of people
       incarcerated in jail today have mental conditions
·       50-55% of all inmates in our jail and prisons have drug or alcohol addictions related to their crimes
·       9% of inmates nationwide were homeless in the last 12 months prior to their arrest
·       Nearly 50% of those incarcerated nationwide cannot read or write
·       Over 60% of inmates were unemployed nationwide at the time of their arrest ental conditions
·       This year over 700,000 people will be released from our nations jails and prisons ... less then 10% will
       receive any type of treatment for their
       lack of education, mental health issues, and drug/alcohol addictions. 

More than One in 100 Adults Are Behind Bars, Pew Study Finds
Release Type: Pew Press Release
Pew Contact: Jessica Riordan, 215.575.4886

        If we fail to address the major issues of drug/alcohol abuse, mental health, lack of education and homelessness  we will be releasing back into our neighborhoods the same people who came to jail, with the same problems, only with increased problems associated with incarceration. 
        It is the philosophy of the Lake County Adult Detention Facilities to return inmates back to society better then when they first came to us.  If we can help send inmates back home who are able to deal with their mental issues, who can stay off of drugs and alcohol, and who can obtain a GED so they can get better jobs, then we will be able to make homes safer for their children; our neighborhoods safer for the entire community; and reduce the burden of financial assistance for local government.
    To address these issues and make real progress to realizing our goals, our programming offered to the  inmates of the Lake County Jail includes:

Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is a voluntary, worldwide fellowship of men and women from all walks of life who meet together to attain and maintain sobriety. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.  It is estimated that there are more than 114,000 groups and over 2,000,000 members in 180 countries.  A.A. is a program of total abstinence. Members simply stay away from one drink, one day at a time. Sobriety is maintained through sharing experience, strength and hope at group meetings and through the suggested Twelve Steps for recovery from alcoholism.  Anyone may attend open meetings of A.A. These usually consist of talks by a leader and two or three speakers who share experience as it relates to their alcoholism and their recovery in A.A. Some meetings are held for the specific purpose of informing the nonalcoholic public about A.A. Doctors, members of the clergy, and public officials are invited. Closed discussion meetings are for alcoholics only.  http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/en_information_aa.cfm?PageID=10

Narcotics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous sprang from the Alcoholics Anonymous Program of the late 1940s, with meetings first emerging in the Los Angeles area of California, USA, in the early Fifties. The NA program started as a small US movement that has grown into one of the world's oldest and largest organizations of its type.  Narcotics Anonymous provides a recovery process and support network inextricably linked together. One of the keys to NA’s success is the therapeutic value of addicts working with other addicts. Members share their successes and challenges in overcoming active addiction and living drug-free productive lives through the application of the principles contained within the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of NA. These principles are the core of the Narcotics Anonymous recovery program. http://www.na.org/basic.htm 
Principles incorporated within the steps include: 
·       admitting there is a problem;
·       seeking help;
·       engaging in a thorough self-examination;
·       confidential self-disclosure;
·       making amends for harm done;
·       and helping other drug addicts who want to recover.

G. E. D. ......... General Educational Development
General Educational Development (or GED) tests are a battery of five tests which, when passed, certifies that the taker has American or Canadian high school-level academic skills. To pass the GED Tests and earn a GED credential, test takers must score higher than 40 percent of graduating high school seniors nationwide. Some jurisdictions require that students pass additional tests, such as an English proficiency exam or civics test.  In November 1942, the United States Armed Forces Institute asked the American Council on Education (ACE) to develop a battery of tests to measure high school-level academic skills. These Tests of General Educational Development gave military personnel and veterans who had entered World War II service before completing high school a way to demonstrate their knowledge. Passing these tests gave returning soldiers and sailors the academic credentials they needed to get civilian jobs.  More than 15 million people have received a GED credential since the program began. One in every seven Americans with high school credentials received the GED, as well as one in 20 college students. 70 percent of GED recipients complete at least the 10th grade before leaving school, and the same number are over the age of 19, with the average age being 24.     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GED
·        On March 10, 2008 the following articles was posted on www.CEN-ONLINE.ORG which is a chemistry magazine.  The article is by a 
       retired research chemist who volunteers at the Lake County jail teaching GED.  It reads "As a retired research chemist, I have been a
       volunteer tutor since 2006 in the General Education Development (GED) program run under the auspices of Painesville, Ohio Adult Basic
       and Literacy Education ABLE.  We prepare students for GED exams, working mornings in the ABLE facilities and afternoons in the Lake
       County jail.  Our program in the jail has the support of the Lake County Sheriff's Office...We are attempting to equip those released with
       skills they can use to work within the community rather then returning to jail or "graduating to prison.  In fact some sentences even include
       obtaining the GED as a requirement to be considered for Probation.  Surely, helping those in jail contribute productively to society after 
       their release, rather than being a drain on the community, is a worthwhile endeavor."

Religious Services and Programming
The Lake County Detention Facilities work with many area Churches and religious organizations to help provide inmates the opportunity to practice their religious beliefs.  On Saturdays and Sundays inmates are permitted to attend religious services offered by the area faiths (including, but not limited to Non-Denominational Services, Protestant, Catholic and Muslim)  Further programming offers Men' Bible study, Women's Bible study, Wedding facilitation, and individualized meetings with members of the clergy.  Participating groups include:
·        St. Anthony - Fairport Harbor
·        St. Mary - Painesville
·        St. Gabriel - Concord
·        St. Noel - Willoughby Hills
·        East Heisley Church of God
·        New Mercies Community
·        Leroy Chappell
·        Painesville Assembly of God
·        Mentor Baptist
·        Islamic Center of Cleveland

Library Services
The Lake County Detention Facilities offers a wide-variety of reading material through the inmate library services program.  Volunteer Librarian Vincent Morreale spends 10 hours or more per week facilitating the donations, up-keep, and distribution of books to the inmate population.  Reading material includes educational, fiction, and non-fiction material.

Women In Transition Programming
The development of the jail Women in Transition Through Support Services program was created to offer on-site services and support for women during incarceration, as well as providing them with a continued resource and linkage to agencies within the area that can assist them in making a good transition back to the community, and to their family.  W.I.T.T.S. is geared to facilitating quality changes in the lives of female offenders so that they can achieve their true potential to be active and contributing members in society, and most importantly, in the lives of their children and families. The program offers the female population services such as a Victim’s Assistance group that focuses on being a Victim, Female support Group, Parenting Classes, Yoga Classes, Making a Change and internships through the General Health Department, Art Therapy and Employment series.  http://www.lakecountyohio.org/sheriff/witts.htm
·        Contributing Members to WITTS include:       
·        Neighboring                      
·        Extended Housing
·        Women=s Center Lakeland Community College                 
·        Job and Family Services                
·        Victims Assistance Program
·        Forbes House
·        Atma Center
·        Ohio State University Extension
·        Help Me Grow  

Programming for WITTS inlcudes:
    The “Female Support” group focuses on stress associated with being in jail.  It helps the women deal with problem solving, trust, goal         planning, anger management and many other topics dealing with stress.  The sessions are conducted by Maureen O’Hara of Neighboring on Tuesday mornings and averages 8 women per session with a total of 273 women attending for the year. 
    The “Victim’s” Of Domestic Violence class is held on Tuesday afternoon  with Joan Boswell from Forbes House . The session basically focuses on being a “Victim” and learning how to cope. Presently through the Drug and Alcohol program Joan also comes in once a month to speak on Domestic Violence. The group averages 12 women per session with a total of 294 women attending for the year.
    The “Parenting Class” aides in assisting women with dealing with their children from a new born to adulthood.  The group focuses on setting children up for success as well as trying to become a better parent. The group addresses topics on having a healthy relationships with children and coping with stress that can be associated with raising children.  The group meets every other Wednesday and averages 12 women per session with a total attendance of 333 for the year.  The sessions are conducted by Terri Worthington from the Ohio State University Extension and Amy Korsch of CrossRoads.  On the off weeks the “Speakers Series” covers topics such as nutrition, money management, job preparation and resume writing, child custody, housing, education and more. 
    The “Making Change” group meets on Friday’s and is facilitated by Mary Ring of the Women’s Center at Lakeland Community College.  The group averages 4 women per session.  Mary’s group focuses’ on how do we change, barriers to change, deciding what to change and developing a change plan.  The women that attend have to be committed to four weeks of attendance in order for the sessions to be effective. 
 

Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation  
The Jail Treatment Program was developed in response to the needs of the Criminal Justice System. For Lake county judges and probation officers, it provides structured intensive chemical dependency treatment for clients in a setting where abstinence is insured. It also provides a unique opportunity to mete out logical consequences for crimes while simultaneously addressing the root cause of those crimes. For those offenders who have failed to successfully arrest their addiction through less restrictive means, the Jail Treatment Program provides a logical and cost effective alternative.   http://www.lakecountyohio.org/sheriff/daprogramming.htm
Agencies and Services used for Continuing AfterCare Treatment include:

Physical Fitness  
The Lake County Detention Facilities offer inmates access to indoor and outdoor (weather permitting) recreational areas, as well as housing area exercise programming.  Note: Contrary to misconceptions, there are no weight machines or swimming areas provided to the inmate population.

Anger Management Programming  
The Mental Health Counselors and area organizations provide Anger Management therapy to the inmate population.  The goal of anger management is to reduce both your emotional feelings and the physiological arousal that anger causes. You can't get rid of, or avoid, the things or the people that enrage you, nor can you change them, but you can learn to control your reactions.  Often the Jail works in conjunction with the Courts to provide inmates training on curbing the anger before returning back to their families.

Mental Health Services|
The jail system has two full-time Mental health Consultants and a part-time psychiatrist employed by Neighboring.  These two mental health counselors are responsible for the screening of incoming prisoners for significant psychological issues and illnesses, whether it be from depression, suicide risk, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders or any other form of psychological illness or distress.  They screen and prioritize those inmates needing to see the psychiatrist who may evaluate them a determine a treatment which includes possible medications.  The counselors also supervise the placements of inmates into the designated mental health/special needs housing unit.  Further, they respond to inmates in mental health crises, as well as monitoring the status of inmates on the mental health caseload, including those referred by the Lake County Courts.  http://www.lakecountyohio.org/sheriff/MENTALHEALTH.htm

Medical Services|
The Medical Department provides and coordinates medical, dental and psychiatric services to the inmate population of the Lake County Adult Detention Center.  These services include:
·        Medical screenings of all inmates
·        History & Physical exam of all inmates sentenced to ten days or longer.
·        TB screening of all inmates.
·        Emergency medical services.Continuing care of pre-existing conditions.
·        Diagnosis, treatment and education of new conditions.
·        Scheduled sick call with Dr. Baster.
·        Coordinating medical services with Mental Health
·        Coordinating dental services with Dr. Forbes.
·        Generating and maintaining medical records.
In addition to providing services to inmates, the medical staff provides first aid, TB tests and hepatitis inoculations to employees.

Work Release
The Work Release program allows selected inmates to work at paid employment in the community during their period of incarceration.  As ordered by the Court, these inmates are released each day to work and must return at the end of their work day to the jail.  This program provides:
·        Continuation of Income and Benefits to the Inmate and his/her family
·        Retention of Employment after release from jail
·        Gradual reintegration back into the community.
·        Accumulation of savings from paid employment.
·        Preservation of family and community ties
·        Ability for inmate to offset costs involved in his/her incarceration 
http://www.lakecountyohio.org/sheriff/msj.htm

Prisoner Worker Programming
The Prisoner Worker program allows selected inmates to work inside the jail in a variety of jobs to help reduce the cost of jail operations.  The program allows the inmates to earn good time to reduce their time of incarceration, learn new job skills, and provides an opportunity to give back to the community.  Inmate Worker jobs include:
·       Laundry Workers
·       Kitchen Workers
·       Jail Cleaning / Painting
·       Car Wash
·       Library Upkeep

            The Inmate programming team leaders of Lt. Hungerford, Sgt. Corbut and Sgt.Pethel have interfaced with all of the team leaders offering their full support in coordinating inmate requests to participate in the programming services.  Over 150 volunteers have donated over 3,000 of their time to these programs.  Truly these programs are a community effort to bring about change in our neighborhoods.