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Inmate classes may help recovery
By CARRIE JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer LECANTO -- Carlos Melendez sees many of the same faces behind bars at the Citrus County Jail year after year. Some of them commit crimes because they can't hold down a job. Others have problems controlling anger or stress, said Melendez, the jail's warden. "Sometimes it feels like we have a revolving door here," he said. In an attempt to break the cycle, the Citrus County Jail this week launched a new education program. Using a satellite hookup to a classroom in Spokane, Wash., inmates can now enroll in courses on everything from job success to beginning mathematics. Participation is strictly voluntary, but County Judge Mark Yerman said he'll start incorporating the classes into his sentences. For example, if a defendant has an anger control problem, Yerman said he will suspend part of the sentence if the inmate completes an anger management course. "If this will help them to lead better lives, I'm going to encourage it," the judge said. The curriculum is created by the Corrections Learning Network, which is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The organization has been designing educational classes for correctional facilities since 1999. The classes are geared specifically for a correctional facility and include anger and stress management, life skills and job success, said Anne Charles, program director of the Corrections Learning Network. There are also classes for staff members that tackle subjects such as dealing with inmates who have mental illnesses. Charles said her organization is still collecting data to determine whether inmates who take the classes are less likely to offend again. However, an earlier study done by the Corrections Educational Association showed inmates who were offered educational programs while incarcerated are much less likely to return to jail or prison, Charles said. A satellite dish and decoder are required to receive the programs. The Citrus jail received both last week. However, aside from the cost of installing the dish, the program is free, Charles said. "We're not so interested in making a profit as we are in making a difference," Charles said. Melendez said inmate reaction so far has been enthusiastic: The first course, Workplace Secrets and Finding a Job, was filled in less than 30 minutes. The accompanying workbooks, which contain the homework assignments, have yet to arrive. Melendez said they're expected by next week. The Citrus jail is run by Corrections Corporation of America, a Sarasota-based private company that operates more than 60 facilities throughout the country. All CCA facilities are scheduled to begin offering the satellite classes, but Citrus is one of the first in the area, Melendez said. Courses at the jail were previously limited to Alcoholics Anonymous and General Educational Development, said Julia Swart, who works in the records department. If an inmate is sentenced to substance abuse or stress management classes, they must wait until they are discharged to complete them, she said. Although the satellite classes won't count toward college credit, Melendez said he's hoping the education will help inmates stay out of jail in the future. "Maybe this is something we can do to interject," Melendez said. "Maybe this will be something that will keep them out of prison. Basically, we're hoping this will give the inmates a little bit of self-worth." -- Crime reporter Carrie Johnson can be reached at 860-7309 or cjohnson@sptimes.com.
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