Michelle Dynes
The Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
CHEYENNE, Wy. — The Wyoming Department of Corrections celebrated the completion of a mobile welding lab Monday to help more inmates earn a livable wage after leaving prison.
The 48-foot trailer provides space for five students at a time to work toward welding certification and college credit. The mobility of the instructional lab also means that it can travel to the Wyoming State Penitentiary in Rawlins, the Wyoming Women’s Center in Lusk and the Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution in Torrington.
Mining, manufacturing and transportation mean that welders are in demand in Wyoming.
Employees can earn between $12 and $36 per hour, depending on their skill level and where their job is based, said Betty Abbott, education programs manager for the Department of Corrections.
Ninety-five percent of Wyoming’s inmates will leave prison at some point, and it is estimated that 45 percent will return.
But the scenario becomes less likely for former inmates who can find a good-paying job that allows them to pay taxes, support their families and contribute back to their communities, she added.
Many inmates arrive at prison with few skills, and some don’t have a job history at all, said Greg James, vocational instructor for the Department of Corrections. Meanwhile, felons convicted of fraud aren’t likely to return to banking or business. Abbott said a felon can’t get the license to become a nurse, but they can find unrestricted jobs with the construction industry.
Wyoming legislators approved $194,000 in one-time funding to provide welding training and certification for inmates in 2008. James said it was more cost-effective to build a single mobile lab than spending a minimum of $300,000 to construct three separate labs.
The department worked alongside members of Eastern Wyoming College to design the trailer. Department staff will oversee the lessons, but inmates will be able to earn employer-recognized certification through Eastern Wyoming College or Central Wyoming College.
Abbott said the portable welding lab will pay for itself in a year if five inmates who complete the training stay out of prison for good.
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