by Dennis Dalman
Stearns County Sheriff Steve Soyka recently announced a new study program for the county jail’s inmates.
The program is expected to prepare inmates for their release, to prepare them for future successes and to make the jail safer.
It’s called IGNITE (Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education), which is a nationwide initiative that came from the National Sheriffs’ Association.
Details of IGNITE were shared with the public at a community event held late March in the county courthouse.
Soyka has said he has long been committed to promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism among jailed individuals. IGNITE is expected to reinforce those goals.
The new program aims to “ignite” positive change within the jail itself, putting inmates on a path to becoming more responsible, productive and law-abiding citizens in the future. IGNITE provides tools and support that can promote personal growth, rehabilitation and a smooth transition back into society once inmates are released from jail.
“As we look for new ways to improve the rehabilitation process of our inmate population,” Sheriff Soyka said, “we are excited to launch the IGNITE program in our jail. The program will provide inmates with the tools, education and opportunities to better themselves and become productive citizens.”
Inmates enrolled in IGNITE spend two hours a day, five days a week in class. They can access courses to earn credits toward a general education diploma, take part in virtual reality to learn a skilled trade job or take enrichment courses that could help them focus their interests and help them find employment after graduation with a GED. Nationwide, so far, the program has enrolled thousands of students who have completed more than 200,000 classroom hours, logged more than 20,000 hours of coursework and participated in more than 700 standardized tests.
“We are excited Sheriff Soyka is taking on this important initiative,” said National Sheriffs’ Association Executive Director Jonathan Thompson. IGNITE makes it clear sheriffs’ offices across the country are sending individuals in their jails back to their communities more equipped to lead productive lives.”
The National Sheriffs’ Association is one of the largest non-profit associations of law enforcement professionals in the United States, representing more than 3,000 elected sheriffs across the nation, with a total membership of about 14,000 individuals. NSA is dedicated to raising the level of professionalism among sheriffs, their deputies and others working in law enforcement, public safety and criminal justice. Throughout its 81-year history, NSA has also served as an information resource for all law enforcement at the local, state and federal levels.
