My City June 2021
MYCOMMUNITY
Breaking the Cycle of Generational Incarceration BY CHERYL DENNISON x PHOTOGRAPHY BY TIM JAGIELO T hings have changed at the Genesee County Jail since I.G.N.I.T.E. (Inmate Growth Nat urally and Intention According to Gould, most inmates have never experienced or had the opportunity of having someone in a position of authority look them in the eyes and tell them they are proud of them for something they accom
We don’t call it a program. It is a cultural change, a way of thinking.” Capt. Jason Gould “Some people who come to jail are quite educated and some are not,” says Gould. “Every inmate has the opportunity to participate at their own level.We pres ent it to them as an opportunity.” And, according to recent data, the initiative has been successful. Since “ operation became easier.” He reports that housing units were much quieter, there was less fighting between inmates and less conflict with the staff. “Some of the deputies who were skeptical have admitted that I.G.N.I.T.E. provides a very valuable culture change,” he adds. The education is designed to meet the specific needs of each inmate.
ally Through Education) launched in September 2020, the vision of Gen esee County Sheriff, Christopher R. Swanson. The education, re-entry and rehabilitation initiative was designed to eliminate generational incarceration through education by restoring value, hope and purpose to the inmate population. “We don’t call it a program,” says Capt. Jason Gould, Jail Administrator. “It is a cultural change, a way of thinking.” I.G.N.I.T.E. is based on meritoc racy, the captain explains. Meritoc racy is defined as a political system in which economic goods and/or po litical power are vested in individual people on the basis of talent, effort and achievement, rather than wealth or social class. Advancement in such a system is based on performance, as measured through examination or demonstrated achievement.
plished. This cultural change has given the inmates that opportunity. “You work hard, you get a reward.” All of the inmates attend school twice a day, one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon.They use a Chromebook laptop for online education and if they complete the work using the Chromebook, they are rewarded with a computer tablet. Inmates pay for use of the tablet, which they can use to watch movies, play games and listen to music. “It spread like wildfire!”Gould exclaims. “It not only changed the direction of the inmates, it changed the direction of the staff.” According to the captain, the staff was resistant to the program at first. “Change is hard and initially, they didn’t think it was a good idea,” Gould states.”Once they saw the power of instilling hope, their day-to-day
18
MYCITYMAG.COM
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker