Inmates and power tools: Meade Co. Jail's woodworking program changing lives

Inmates and power tools: Meade Co. Jail’s woodworking program changing lives
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Updated: 7:10 PM EDT Apr 26, 2021
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Updated: 7:10 PM EDT Apr 26, 2021
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INSIDE THE MEADE COUNTY DETENTION CENTER. THE WOODWORKING PROGRAM AT THE MEADE COUNTY DETENTION CENTER WAS CREATED BY ACCIDENT A FEW YEARS AGO, AFTER A GROUP OF INMATES MADE A BENCH FOR T COURTHOUSE. JAILER J.J. SCARBOROUGH SAYS ITS BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS SINC >> IN THE LAST 5 YEARS, ITS GROWN EVERY YEAR AND WE’ HOPING WITHIN ANOTHER FEW YEARS, WE ARE GOING TO DOUBLE THE SIZE OR TRIPLE THE SIZE WE ARE AT NOW. JULIE: ABOUT TEN INMATES AT A TIME ARE HIRED. YES, HIRED. INMATE MICHAEL ABELL EXPLAINS, NON-VIOLENT OFFENDERS APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM LIKE YOU WOULD ANY JOB. AND IT GIVES HIM A REASON TO GET OUT OF BED. >> I HAVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE IN MY LIFE. I STARTED DOING IT OUT HERE AND JUST FIGURED IT WOULD BE GOOD TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW. IT’S MORE OF A MIND THING, YOU GET UP AND DO SOMETHING EVERY DAY AND GO TO WORK, IT MAKES YOU FEEL NORMAL. JULIE: BUT THE PIECES CREATED IN THIS SHOP ARE ANYTHING BUT NORMAL. ESPECIALLY FOR AMATEURS. FROM BOURBON BARRELLS TO ROCKING HORSES, ANIMAL KENNELS, AN BEDROOM SUITES, THEY’VE MADE AND SOLD IT AL >> ULTIMATELY, ITS A WORKI PROGRAM. IT HAS BEEN REALLY BENEFICIAL TO NOT ONLY THE COUNTY, COUNTY’S MESSES, BUT THE INMATES THAT ARE HERE. I REALLY THINK THIS IS HELPING THESE GUYS. >> THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT IS SECOND TO NONE. THE GUYS ARE REALLY TALENTED. JULIE: MEADE COUNTY JUDGE EXECUTIVE LESLIE STITH SAYS THE PROGRAM PAYS FOR ITSELF, AND DOESN’T CALL FOR ANY TAXPAYER DOLLARS. [BUZZING MISSIONARY] AND ANOTHER BENEFIT, MANY INMATES GO ON TO WORK IN THE INDUSTRY UPON THEIR RELEASE. >> IT’S NICE WHEN THEY PUT M DOWN AS A REFERENCE WHENEVER THEY ARE GOING TO COVENTRY PLACE OR A HOME BUILDER OR SOMEONE WHO MAY BUILD CUSTOM CARPENTRY. I ENJOY GIVING THEM A GOOD REFERENCE. JULIE: HE SAYS THE STAFF AT THE DETENTION CENTER HAS HEARD FROM SEVERAL INMATES WHO HAVE REACHED OUT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE VOCATIONAL SKILLS LEARNED IN THE PROGRAM. ABELL IS JUST SIX MONTHS IN, BUT SAYS HE’S ALREADY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. >> I LOVE BEING OUT HERE. I THINK BEING OUT HERE FOR SO LONG, IT WILL BE EASY TO MAY BE USED IS TO GET A TRADE WHEN I GET HOME AND ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING GOOD WITH MYSELF. JULIE: AND CHANGING THE FUTURE FOR THESE MEN THROUGH THIS CREATIVE OUTLET IS WHAT SCARBOROUGH SAYS IT’S ALL ABOUT. IN MEADE COUNTY,

Related Keywords

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