Cleveland State Community College forms partnerships with two justice centers for inmate education

Cleveland State Community College has recently formed partnerships with two separate justice centers to provide education for inmates in the county jail systems. McMinn County Justice Center and Monroe County Justice Center have each received grants that have allowed them to enhance the educational opportunities they can provide to inmates.

According to an article on Cleveland State Community College’s website that discusses the college’s partnership with McMinn County Justice Center, McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy was quoted as saying, “We are proud to host this program for our inmates, and we feel HVAC certifications will greatly enhance their ability to find employment upon release. Programs like this should greatly reduce a graduate’s chances of returning to jail and gives them a great opportunity to be a productive citizen.”

McMinn County received a $1 million grant from the Tennessee Office of Criminal Justice Programs’ Evidence Based Programs that has provided the jail facility with an onsite HVAC and welding lab, giving the students opportunities for hands-on education that will equip them with usable, in-demand job skills.

Cleveland State Community College’s Workforce Development Department has already conducted the first HVAC bootcamp at the facility. Six students were able to participate, as they already have outside jobs they work during the week, and were able to earn Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Section 608 universal certifications. These same students will be able to participate in the welding bootcamp in the future.

Angela Cooper, who is the director of Cleveland State Community College’s Adult Education Program, played an instrumental role in helping McMinn County apply for this grant. She said, “These grants have made a major impact on changing lives and reducing recidivism for those who are justice involved and their families, providing opportunities that these individuals wouldn’t otherwise have. It has been a complete game changer for them.”

In a separate article on Cleveland State Community College’s website that details the college’s partnership with the Monroe County Justice Center, Heather Brown, the director of the college’s Workforce Development department, was quoted as saying, “Cleveland State’s Workforce Development Department is excited to continue our partnership with the Monroe County Justice Center. Our desire is to change lives through providing training to these folks while incarcerated in hopes that it gives them a leg up upon their release to enter the workforce and reduce recidivism. We are fortunate to work with great partners at the justice center.”

The grant that the Monroe County Justice Center received from the State of Tennessee is a $1.5 million Evidence-Based Programming grant that will run through 2027. Cleveland State Community College’s Workforce Development Department will provide the training for inmates in food handling, HVAC, and welding. 

The bootcamps are already well underway, with 31 inmates having participated in six bootcamp sessions that have resulted in the students receiving ServSafe Food Handler certifications, EPA Section 608 universal certifications, and American Welding Society certifications.

In addition to the skills bootcamps, the jail is also providing other courses through the grant funding, including digital literacy, anger management, parenting, and substance use disorder programs.

Brandi Huggens, who serves as the MCJC Inmate Education Director, said, “We are still early in our program, but we are confident that these educational and treatment programs will reduce recidivism and have an excellent impact on the future of our inmates, their families and the citizens of our county.”

For more information about Cleveland State Community College, visit the school’s website.