IA County Takes Jail Classes An Extra Step

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By Des Moines Register

Published: 09/30/2002

Doing time in jail isn't all about punishment in Story County. Prisoners also can learn to turn their lives around.
There's help for drug addicts, domestic abusers and prisoners who don't know how to balance a checkbook through a new program at the Story County Jail. Anger-management classes are on the way, officials said.
Such classes are a rare find in county jails, especially at a time jails are crowded and sheriffs are scrambling to find money, state officials said.
Most counties offer classes for prisoners to earn a general-equivalency diploma. A $33,000 federal grant helps Story County officials go the extra step.
'These classes are helping me find out about myself,' said Michael Bond, who's in jail for violating probation stemming from marijuana possession.
Because most prisoners are in the Story County Jail on drug- or alcohol-related counts and serve a few months instead of years, the chance to rehabilitate is limited, said J.B. Hopkins, the jail administrator.
'I don't think a lot of counties are doing those programs,' said David Vestal, director of the Iowa State Association of Counties. Story County's programs 'benefit all people because these people are going to be getting out at some point.'
Once they're beyond the walls of the Story County Jail, men can seek help from a familiar face.
Jane Larson, a certified drug and alcohol counselor, oversees the life-skills program in the jail four days a week.
On the fifth day, she works at the Center for Addictions Recovery in Ames.
Not seeking help on the outside 'is one of the reasons they go back to using,' Hopkins said.
Barb Schroeder, who works with domestic-abuse victims in Ames, spoke to 12 prisoners Wednesday about building healthy relationships. She asked the prisoners to list the people with whom they've had healthy and unhealthy relationships.
For the next 11/2 hours, Schroeder explained how bad relationships are chosen, not thrust upon people.
By the end of the seminar, the prisoners talked comfortably with Schroeder instead of simply answering her questions.
Kenny Harris said he found that drinking was 'the root of my whole problem.'
Joe Jensen, who is serving time on a drug charge, said the classes 'give me a chance to express my feelings. It gives me hope.'

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