Another Graduation of Inmate Students from the Scott County Jail - Once Again, the Scott County Jail Sets the Standard for the Rest of the State!

Scott County-On July 10th, a group of inmate students officially graduated from a course designed to help them gain employment when released from custody. This adult education course, labeled the "Pre-Construction-Virtual Goggle Construction Course", was formed by a partnership between River Valley Resources (RVR, the adult education partner of the Scott County Jail), the Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters (IKORCC), Ivy Tech Community College, and the Scott County Sheriff's Office (SCSO). The course, which lasted from 8-10 weeks in total, was held entirely within the walls of the Scott County Jail, utilizing non-appropriated funding. In other words, the course didn't cost Scott County Taxpayers one cent, which we at the Sheriff's Office take great pride in. Additionally, instruction in social skills development and developing partnerships in the workplace was provided to the students, helping them with the needed skills required in today's work environment. The partnership between the SCSO and RVR makes all these courses a reality, where we can provide opportunities for inmates that they may have never had in their lifetimes. The ceremony was held in the Scott County Courthouse Circuit Court, hosted by the Honorable Jason Mount, Judge of the Scott Circuit Court. There were 13 of the graduating class (one of the graduates was released from jail before today's ceremony) who were presented with certificates of graduation, their union membership cards, and many well wishes from Judge Mount, Sheriff Goodin, and other community and professional leaders in attendance. Sheriff Goodin stressed the following... "I am extremely thankful to all the partners we have at the Scott County Sheriff's Office. These program partners are what is helping us slam the revolving door shut, with recidivism rates dropping dramatically every year since I have been in office. Our jail leads the way to recovery in the State of Indiana...long-established standards are not what we follow. Consistent process improvement efforts by jail staff and our program partners result in the Scott County Jail setting new standards for others to follow and emulate, not only in the State of Indiana but the entire nation".  The graduation culminated with a group photo including the graduates, Judge Mount, Sheriff Goodin, Prosecutor Chris Owens, and other well-wishers. The graduates are Mark Cochran, Ryan Smith, Devon Sizemore, Jordan Harrell, Bailey Jent, Jeffrey Combs, Kevin Fox, Charles Dexter, Cameren Zanier, Sean Whobrey, Timothy Mitchell, Kalan Bowling, Chris Richey, and Christopher Spitznagle (not available for the photo).

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Contact Sheriff Jerry Goodin at Scott County Sheriff's Office (812)752-8400.