Building Corrections
Posted by Bill Molesworth
Doug has been serving on the Community Advisory Board and has been pleased and impressed by the work being done at the Correctional Center in terms of trainng and programs. He introduced Bill Johnston who has had experience at the Barrie Jail land at Hillsdale but who is now directing education in Penetang.
Bill thanked the Club for its interest. Out of 1200 inmates about 500 are on remand and so are not part of the educational system. Courses range from anger management to substance control to apprenticeship programs.
He said there are jobs available inside the facility ranging from cleaning to lawn care and the centre has a textile centre that produces tube socks and fire retardant blankets for all the jails.
There is a large shop in the jail and inmates can take courses for educational credit. He has started a pre-apprenticeship program in brick and stone work. The industry and the unions recognize a need for new workers as the average age of current stone masons is 56.
15 were selected from the appllicants and, though there were expectations that several would drop out, the entire 15 have stuck with it. Students are building walls inside the shop and are learning saleable skills.
They will be provided clothes, tools and a job when they get out. 4 have asked to be placed away from their previous residences to give them a completely new start; the students realize this is an opportunity for a new start.
If these guys stick it out and keep the jobs they will, of course, become contributing members of the community, instead of a charge on it. They are calling it a 'bridge into employment' and are applying for funding for next year.
It is difficult to develop programs for a body of men who range from 18 to 70 years old and have educations ranging from grade 2 to post graduate but Bill felt that these kinds of courses were valuable
Bill thanked the Club for its interest. Out of 1200 inmates about 500 are on remand and so are not part of the educational system. Courses range from anger management to substance control to apprenticeship programs.
He said there are jobs available inside the facility ranging from cleaning to lawn care and the centre has a textile centre that produces tube socks and fire retardant blankets for all the jails.
There is a large shop in the jail and inmates can take courses for educational credit. He has started a pre-apprenticeship program in brick and stone work. The industry and the unions recognize a need for new workers as the average age of current stone masons is 56.
15 were selected from the appllicants and, though there were expectations that several would drop out, the entire 15 have stuck with it. Students are building walls inside the shop and are learning saleable skills.
They will be provided clothes, tools and a job when they get out. 4 have asked to be placed away from their previous residences to give them a completely new start; the students realize this is an opportunity for a new start.
If these guys stick it out and keep the jobs they will, of course, become contributing members of the community, instead of a charge on it. They are calling it a 'bridge into employment' and are applying for funding for next year.
It is difficult to develop programs for a body of men who range from 18 to 70 years old and have educations ranging from grade 2 to post graduate but Bill felt that these kinds of courses were valuable