Sheriff’s job training program hugely successful

The first thing Debbie Barr wants folks to understand about the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Reentry Services program is that it’s “from the heart.” Barr, executive director of the unique program at the Georgetown County Detention Center, recalls some initial reservations in “talking to a politician about social services but the sheriff was from the heart.”

Nine years ago, Cribb wanted to start helping inmates earn their GED diplomas. Barr was assisting Georgetown County Schools in adult education. The Ohio native had 25 years of experience in re-entry services with the Ohio Department of Mental Health, beginning after the approach to public mental health dramatically changed from treating people in institutions.

Reentry Services started with a grant from the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments and funds from the federal Work Force Investment Act and the S.C. Employment Commission. Then, Cribb “wanted to take employment training to the next level,” Barr recalls. Since February 2007, more than 200 inmates have received training in 12 trade skills certified by the S.C. Department of Labor and taught in the state’s system of technical colleges.

The 211 former inmates have jobs in such fields as auto body repair, barbering, carpentry, electrical, heavy equipment, HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) and plumbing. Qualified inmates work with supervisors in the Georgetown County Public Works Department, under the direction of Ray Funnye. The 21 inmates now in the program work one-on-one with public works supervisors, then have classroom work in preparation for apprenticeship certification. Participants are from the S.C. Department of Corrections who have earned transfer to Georgetown Detention Center to complete their sentences.

Cribb notes that the instruction includes how to dress for and how to do job interviews. Journeyman certification requires thousands of hours working as an apprentice. For example, 6,000 hours of apprenticeship takes about three years. As far as Cribb knows, no other S.C. denention center offers similar training.

The 211 have been tracked (National Crime Information Center) and “not a one has been arrested” Cribb says. For a year following their release, the former inmates receive case management services. Beyond keeping track through NCIC, Barr and Cribb are in touch because “they drop in to visit, they tell us about their families, they offer to help with training. It’s like one big family,” Barr says.

Reentry Services now has a companion 501(c)(3) nonprofit, The Amazing Journey. Attorney Collin Jewell is president of the board of directors. And in the works is construction of two houses on trailer frames on Georgetown Detention Center grounds that will be transitional housing for Reentry Services graduates, who will pay rent. The housing, including rehabilition of a house on the grounds, is possible with a grant from Tri County Housing.

Cribb, a Georgetown County native (Pleasant Hill), has been sheriff for 23 years. “The sheriff honestly cares. He wants [former inmates] to stay out of jail. They respect him so much. He’s a man of his word.” Barr has good reason to speculate that crime would be reduced “if more people in public office thought this way.”

This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 12:24 PM with the headline "Sheriff’s job training program hugely successful."