By Ben Benton
Chattanooga Times Free Press
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — More than 2,500 state inmates serving time in county jails don’t have access to rehabilitation programs they could attend if they were in state institutions.
The state doesn’t require counties to offer such programs, according to the Tennessee Department of Correction, even though research shows “those inmates who have access to programming and rehabilitation reoffend at a lower rate,” spokeswoman Dorinda Carter said.
Inmates in state prison are required to participate in programs such as academic and vocational classes, substance abuse and sex offender treatment, anger management, victim impact and release preparation classes, counseling for mental health issues and religious services, Ms. Carter said.
Records show 307 state inmates are in Southeast Tennessee county jails, where rehab services are provided by volunteers, if at all.
“Ideally, all inmates in custody should have access to programs that improve their chance of success,” Ms. Carter said. “The issue is one of funding and recognizing the overall impact that returning offenders have on the community.”
The advantage of local custody, she said, is “the ability to remain in contact with family and other supportive individuals.”
Ms. Carter said inmates who have supportive families “reoffend at a lower rate.”
Richard Hughes, 10th Judicial District public defender, said state inmates should get the same services regardless of custody. “I want them to gain something from being incarcerated so they won’t reoffend,” he said. “Obviously, it’s going to take money to do this correctly.”
A partnership among the state, counties and private organizations could spread costs and resources, he said.
Bob McKee, executive director of the General Assembly’s Select Oversight Committee on Corrections, said the state “would be interested in partnering with sheriffs and jails if funds would permit.”
But he said the state’s financial problems likely would forestall any new push.
He agreed with Ms. Carter about inmates’ gains from staying connected to their communities. Most counties can’t afford anything fancy, but inmates at even the smallest jails get to participate in work crews that get them outside, where they can hone job skills and help the community, he said.
“There’s not a lot of other alternatives,” he said.
Rehab services reduce discipline problems and help keep inmates on a path away from jail, Sequatchie County Sheriff Ronnie Hitchcock said.
The relatively new ministry-based volunteer program at the Sequatchie County Justice Center “helped us run a better facility,” Sheriff Hitchcock said. Programs that mirror some state offerings help inmates set goals for their release, he said.
Sheriff Hitchcock said he’d like to help other counties establish similar programs.
Bradley County started organizing a volunteer-based rehab program three months ago, said Sgt. Anderson Sanders, a 25-year veteran in charge of programs and security.
He said the challenge has been organizing churches and support groups, and he needs more volunteers. He has high hopes for the program, which is expected to be operational in March, he said.
“Once the word gets out, people are interested in helping us,” he said.
Copyright 2009 Chattanooga Publishing Company