Program points inmates toward new direction
By Kat Russell, Reporter
The Paducah Sun
August 22, 2015
http://www.paducahsun.com/news/local/082215_PS_Jail_Grads
Kat Russell / The Paducah Sun
MAYFIELD, Ky. — When it comes to breaking the cycle of incarceration, administrators at the Graves County Restricted Custody Center — a small minimum-security facility on South Jenkins Street near Mayfield — are doing all they can to bring educational programs to their inmates so they can have a good chance at starting over when they're released.
Housing some 60 men, who are serving sentences for petty crimes, minor drug offenses and defaulting on child support payments, the facility has recently initiated a new program called New Directions Portal. The program's first class of 10 men graduated Friday.
"This is a five-month course that ... teaches inmates a whole new set of skills to take out into the world," said Restricted Custody Coordinator Eric Hamilton. "Inmates learn things like checkbook balancing and how to handle a job interview, how to write up a resume, how to open a bank account or manage finances and make a budget, where to go to get or renew a drivers license or apply for food stamps."
To many, this may seem like general knowledge that everybody knows, Hamilton said, but for some of the guys housed at the RCC, it's information they were never taught.
"A lot of them don't know anything about that stuff," he said. "You know, they've sold drugs, they've run from the law, they've grown up in a lifestyle that's taught them to stay in jail."
The goal, Hamilton said is to teach inmates how to navigate their way through the normal, everyday tasks that a life outside of jail requires so they have a chance at making lives for themselves that don't involve recidivism.
The class is limited to 18 inmates at a time and Hamilton describes the program as a "strict, no-rule violation program."
In the first class, Hamilton said they started with a full group but by the end eight had been excluded due to discipline or attitude problems.
"If they have any kind of attitude problem or they violate any rules of RC center, they are out of the program," he said. "We're not going to just give them the program. They get 90 days off their sentences if they complete it, so they have to work for it and show they want it."
Hamilton said in his 16 years on the job, he's seen that the current incarceration system does not work.
"Putting a guy in jail and saying 'that's all you've got to do is do your time' doesn't work," he said. "You've got to reform them, you've got to talk to them, you've got to help them learn to make better choices."
The New Directions program, Hamilton hopes, will give the guys under his watch a deeper understanding of how the world works and what they need to do to succeed.
Housing some 60 men, who are serving sentences for petty crimes, minor drug offenses and defaulting on child support payments, the facility has recently initiated a new program called New Directions Portal. The program's first class of 10 men graduated Friday.
"This is a five-month course that ... teaches inmates a whole new set of skills to take out into the world," said Restricted Custody Coordinator Eric Hamilton. "Inmates learn things like checkbook balancing and how to handle a job interview, how to write up a resume, how to open a bank account or manage finances and make a budget, where to go to get or renew a drivers license or apply for food stamps."
To many, this may seem like general knowledge that everybody knows, Hamilton said, but for some of the guys housed at the RCC, it's information they were never taught.
"A lot of them don't know anything about that stuff," he said. "You know, they've sold drugs, they've run from the law, they've grown up in a lifestyle that's taught them to stay in jail."
The goal, Hamilton said is to teach inmates how to navigate their way through the normal, everyday tasks that a life outside of jail requires so they have a chance at making lives for themselves that don't involve recidivism.
The class is limited to 18 inmates at a time and Hamilton describes the program as a "strict, no-rule violation program."
In the first class, Hamilton said they started with a full group but by the end eight had been excluded due to discipline or attitude problems.
"If they have any kind of attitude problem or they violate any rules of RC center, they are out of the program," he said. "We're not going to just give them the program. They get 90 days off their sentences if they complete it, so they have to work for it and show they want it."
Hamilton said in his 16 years on the job, he's seen that the current incarceration system does not work.
"Putting a guy in jail and saying 'that's all you've got to do is do your time' doesn't work," he said. "You've got to reform them, you've got to talk to them, you've got to help them learn to make better choices."
The New Directions program, Hamilton hopes, will give the guys under his watch a deeper understanding of how the world works and what they need to do to succeed.
Kat Russell / The Paducah Sun
For inmate Steve Davis, 50, who is serving time for drug offenses and defaulting on his child support payments, enrolling in the New Directions program was an opportunity to "better himself."
Davis said things fell apart for him about 15 years ago after he got divorced and, with this being his third incarceration, he felt it was time to make a change.
During his time in the program, Davis said he learned things he had never been taught, such as creating a resume, money management and how to make a good impression at a job interview.
With these new tools under his belt, Davis said he hopes he can find work and a stable place to live when he's released and "stay straight."
"I never really cared before," he said. "But being here and going through this program, I realized that I don't want to live this way anymore."
Another inmate, Jonathan West, 22, said he joined the program because he is tired of getting in trouble and going back to jail.
West said he was 14 the first time he was locked up and has been in and out of facilities, mostly for drug offenses, since then.
Being no stranger to in-jail education and support programs, West said his experience with New Directions was different from the others.
"They gave me a chance to be myself in this program," he said. "They want us to talk and learn in a way that doesn't stress us out. They basically talk to us about the things we can do when we get out and how to do them."
West said the instructors also gave him information about the resources and support that are available to help him get back on his feet when he gets out.
He said he found the program to be helpful, but in the end it boils down to him.
"It's all on me." he said. "You can give me a million resources, but if I don't want to do it, I'm not going to do it."
When asked if he wants to do better when he gets out this time, West laughed and said, "Of course I do."
"The older I get, the more I see, with me being so young coming in and getting locked up so much, I didn't really care. But I'm tired of missing out on the family stuff, my nephew being born, and I just keep thinking of what's important to me ... I want to get involved with things in my community, I want to get a job and get some stability."
Over the past five months, Hamilton said, he's watched this class work hard and prove they really want to change.
"These are good guys who've made bad choices," he said. "I'm really proud of them and what they've done. They signed up for this program on their own, they've shown that they're dedicated and that they want this for their families and for themselves."
Contact Kat Russell, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
Davis said things fell apart for him about 15 years ago after he got divorced and, with this being his third incarceration, he felt it was time to make a change.
During his time in the program, Davis said he learned things he had never been taught, such as creating a resume, money management and how to make a good impression at a job interview.
With these new tools under his belt, Davis said he hopes he can find work and a stable place to live when he's released and "stay straight."
"I never really cared before," he said. "But being here and going through this program, I realized that I don't want to live this way anymore."
Another inmate, Jonathan West, 22, said he joined the program because he is tired of getting in trouble and going back to jail.
West said he was 14 the first time he was locked up and has been in and out of facilities, mostly for drug offenses, since then.
Being no stranger to in-jail education and support programs, West said his experience with New Directions was different from the others.
"They gave me a chance to be myself in this program," he said. "They want us to talk and learn in a way that doesn't stress us out. They basically talk to us about the things we can do when we get out and how to do them."
West said the instructors also gave him information about the resources and support that are available to help him get back on his feet when he gets out.
He said he found the program to be helpful, but in the end it boils down to him.
"It's all on me." he said. "You can give me a million resources, but if I don't want to do it, I'm not going to do it."
When asked if he wants to do better when he gets out this time, West laughed and said, "Of course I do."
"The older I get, the more I see, with me being so young coming in and getting locked up so much, I didn't really care. But I'm tired of missing out on the family stuff, my nephew being born, and I just keep thinking of what's important to me ... I want to get involved with things in my community, I want to get a job and get some stability."
Over the past five months, Hamilton said, he's watched this class work hard and prove they really want to change.
"These are good guys who've made bad choices," he said. "I'm really proud of them and what they've done. They signed up for this program on their own, they've shown that they're dedicated and that they want this for their families and for themselves."
Contact Kat Russell, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
