First graduating class of inmates from Pulaski County Detention Center receive certifications through Somerset Community College

Somerset Community College provides training to inmates at Pulaski County Detention Center through the Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Inmates Transforming Individuals, Community and Livelihoods (CRITICAL) program. Recently, the first cohort of students completed a welder helper certification program through CRITICAL. Completion of the program will increase the chances of the inmates attaining gainful employment upon release. 

In an article published by Commonwealth Journal, some of the inmates and the president of Somerset Community College, Dr. Carey Castle, along with instructors, shared feedback from the program. The eight participants completed an eight-week training course which taught them about the fundamentals of welding. Graduate Corey Upchurch said, "I like welding. I'm glad I learned how to do it. I'm going to try to get out and do a good job doing it, and see where it takes me. It opened a lot of doors."

In addition to classroom instruction, the students used the skills they were learning to build a firepit, which gave them the opportunity to use all the equipment in the shop, according to instructor Karl Watson. Another instructor, Mark Calhoun, who works at Gatormade (a local manufacturer of trailers and equipment), said he related to the inmates because of his own professional journey: "I've been in the exact same place. That's how I started out, coming from that to this."

The idea for CRITICAL started among community leaders in 2019 with the intention of helping inmates find employment after serving their sentences. On top of the training and certification, participants also receive help with creating resumes and practicing their interviewing skills. President Castle explained that the program doesn't end there. "Prior to being released, the third step [is] having additional workforce partners and agencies that provide support services for you, and include transportation services, clothing, housing – some of the very important things that are necessary to go back into society."

Community partners such as Goodwill Industries and the Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority provide support for CRITICAL. Chris Girdler, president and CEO of the Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority, was in attendance for the graduation ceremony and said, "It's such an exciting time for these men and their families. This is a win-win for Somerset, Pulaski County and the Lake Cumberland Region."

Jailer Anthony McCollum emphasized the collaborative nature of the program, saying, "Sometimes an individual's success is a group effort."

At the ceremony, participants presented the firepit to McCollum. One of the graduates, Larry Ramsey, said, "It's good what Anthony McCollum has done. It will be a great help for us when we get out."