Justice Center Programs 

OVERVIEW

Through the generous support of the United Way and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, the Adult Education Foundation is providing two education programs for male and female inmates inside the Blount County Justice Center.  Two class sessions for men and one class for women are offered (the current population housed is about 400 men and 120 women).

Inmates attend class once per week for a 90-minute session.  Class space is limited; 12 inmates per class is the maximum number of inmates that can be seated.  The program has a high retention rate and it continues to have a long waiting list.  For example, 85% of inmates who have enrolled in the last round of Financial Peace classes have completed it.

Program #1: Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University 

Financial Peace University (FPU) is a Dave Ramsey money management program.  The program is an intensive, interactive 9-week class.  FPU utilizes a combination of video presentations, workbooks, and supplemental class discussion along with budgeting worksheets.  The primary focus is understanding zero-based budgeting, becoming and staying debt free, improving buying habits by understanding the difference between wants versus needs, setting short and long term financial goals, and finally, becoming disciplined savers.  An inmate must attend at least eight of the nine weeks.  Those that do will receive a certificate of completion from the Dave Ramsey organization and a lifetime membership. Inmates who complete are eligible for sentence time-off consideration. 

The success rate and impact of this program is currently difficult to quantify. Anecdotally however, a current inmate who has five years of remaining time to serve recently attended a session of debt management. As a result, his wife and attorney will help him to create a plan to become debt free by his release date.  One cannot begin to realize the future impact this will have on the inmate if he achieves the plan.  Inmates are actualizing many more successes as a result of attending this program.

Program #2:  Workforce Readiness Skill Development

The Workforce Readiness Skill Development program is a joint, collaborative initiative with the University of Tennessee –Center for Literacy, Education, & Employment (CLEE) and the Adult Education Foundation of Blount County.  Inmates participate in a 3-month program, and upon meeting attendance requirements and improving skills, they earn a certificate of completion issued by UT CLEE.  

Program Goals

• To learn new skills and to take responsibility for learning on the job

• To apply skills in a variety of contexts such as work, home, and community

• To prepare for lifetime careers

Structure

Phase I: Classroom instruction with a focus on:

• On-the-job high performance standards                                                                

• Entry level readiness

• Employability skills

• Problem solving skills                                                        

• Communication skills

• Learner centered-contextualized approach                       

• Interpersonal skills                              

• Interactive learning and developmental activities

Phase II and III: Following classroom instruction, inmates transition into case management.  This process includes one-to-one interviews to determine employment plans and barriers to management upon reentry.  The inmate can receive mentoring and coaching support upon reentry that aligns with goals they identify in the program. They get specific support for successful reentry, such as securing housing and transportation, and pursuing education needs.

2018 Results: Early in 2018, we began the first class that included three different groups of inmates (two men, one woman) with a high level of anticipation and uncertainty on the potential impact. The inmates demonstrated patience as the instructor adapted the program content over time. The response was overwhelmingly positive. The retention rate exceeded 75%, with the only attrition resulting from prison transfers. Additionally, over 50% of those who completed classroom instruction have now received personal interviews (Phase II) determining future employment plans and key barriers to successfully transition into the community. The next step (Phase III) involves providing mentoring and coaching support to successfully achieve the goals established from the case management process.

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About the Instructor, Al North 

Mr. North has been teaching career, workforce development and money management classes for over 10 years in the Blount County Justice Center.  For Al, it has been an amazing journey working with inmates.  His motto has been “Teaching Hope” – because the incarcerated in many cases have lost hope, struggle with self-esteem, and are anxious in a learning environment.  Teaching the incarcerated involves not only teaching academic skills, but also navigating the inmates’ emotional factors that accompany it.