SCRANTON \u2014 The Lackawanna County Prison is partnering with Johnson College to bring a training program designed to bolster inmates\u2019 post-incarceration employment prospects to the jail on North Washington Avenue.<\/p>\n
County Commissioners Thom Welby, Bill Gaughan and Chris Chermak authorized a memorandum of understanding last month between the college, the prison and the county prison board for the pending implementation of a prison training program Johnson already offers at county prisons in Wayne and Pike counties. It provides access to virtual instructor-based training courses allowing participants to earn industry-recognized credentials and certifications.<\/p>\n
The program will specifically offer participating Lackawanna County Prison inmates basic electrical, electrical safety, customer service and OSHA 10 workplace safety training useful for those aspiring to work\u00a0in the construction trades, manufacturing sector or hospitality industry, Johnson College Associate Vice President of Special Programs Kellyn Williams, Ph.D., said in a recent interview.<\/p>\n
Inmates who complete the program generally earn their credentials and certifications after 10 to 20 hours of training, depending on the course, she said.<\/p>\n
Officials lauding the program touted its goal of improving workforce readiness and its potential to reduce recidivism, the tendency of former inmates to reoffend and wind up back behind bars. Warden Tim Betti told commissioners in June that he\u2019s \u201cvery excited\u201d about the program.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a kind of thing that opens a door for the possibility of continued education upon release, and it will increase the employability of individuals looking to get a job as they\u2019re leaving jail,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Gaughan also said he was proud to support the initiative.<\/p>\n
\u201cToo often we talk about reducing crime, reducing recidivism and making our community safer without talking about what actually works: education, job training and giving people a chance to build a better future,\u201d he said. \u201cThis partnership will provide inmates \u2026 with access to certificate-based educational programs that can lead directly to meaningful employment opportunities after release. And that is really important, because one of the strongest predictors of whether someone successfully reenters society is whether they can find and keep a good job.\u201d<\/p>\n