For more information:
Megan Laurie
(801) 863-7149
Written by:
Dixie Millet
(801) 863-7011
Adult School-to-Careers Educates Inmates
Utah Valley State College Adult School-to-Careers faculty member Dennis Hales travels weekly to Spanish Fork visiting the Utah County Security (Correctional) Center. His visit is not just a social one—he goes there to educate. Hales was recently awarded a $50,000 grant to help the inmates in jail transition back into society through the medium of education.
The program, established for six years, helps inmates continue their education. Inmates can work towards a GED or high school diploma as well as take a college level sociology class. Certification of culinary arts for working in the kitchen is also available.
In order to get into the program, Hales administers a career test to roughly 600 or 700 inmates. Of those that take the test, about 180 follow through by bringing the test back and getting involved in the program. Currently, 16-20 have finished three of the five units inside Sociology 1010 and are on track to complete this course in August.
Programs such as this are shown to decrease recidivism, or the number of inmates returning to jail. Instead of more jail time, this program creates transition options into Mountainland Applied Technology College (MATC) or even opportunities to take classes at UVSC.
“It makes my job a little more exciting to know that we’re going to reach more people now that we received the grant,” Hales said. “We’re completing some of our dreams.”
For more information, contact Dennis Hales at (801) 863-7548.
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