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| Helping inmates find job |
| By Augusta Chronicle |
| Published: 06/07/2007 |
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AUGUSTA, GA - A forum full of Department of Corrections employees Wednesday sounded more like a Department of Education meeting. That's because Corrections is focusing on education in an effort to save the taxpayers money and make the state a safer place. The idea is to partner with educational institutions and better prepare inmates to re-enter the working world with a job that pays a living wage. "When you leave with $25 and a bus ticket you've got a stacked deck against you," said A.J. Sabree, the director of Reentry Services for the Department of Corrections. "We've got to open a bigger world to them." The state currently works with the Department of Technical and Adult Education's technical colleges to offer vocational training in some prisons, but it is not offered in all. The bottom line, Mr. Sabree said, is that a man leaving prison with a way to get sustainable work is less likely to commit another crime. Also discussed was the work the department has been doing to expand its Employee Education Initiative. Ron Brawner, the superintendent of the Augusta Transition Center on Taylor Street, is an example of an employee taking advantage of the program. Mr. Brawner is a graduate of the Department of Corrections Professional Management Program, which is a collaborative effort between Columbus State University and the department. Further, Georgia Military College, which has a campus in Augusta, applies hours from the program toward an associate degree. "You go to school on work time and the Department of Corrections is paying for it," Mr. Brawner said. "And I really wanted to go further with my education." Mr. Brawner, who started out with corrections 17 years ago as an officer, said he never thought about going to college until this program came along. "This will allow me to add some more tools to my repertoire." |
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