Page 19 - 2020 Annual report

Education Team

7,408 hours of instruction was provided by
jail staff to inmates in 2020

Because of the short term nature of our population, our goal is to provide basic skills training that can
serve as a foundation for further study once released. Statistics support that those inmates who engage
in educational and vocational pursuits while incarcerated are less likely to return to jail in the future.
Most of the funding for inmate programming comes from revenue generated by the Inmate Commissary
Program. Additionally, a wide variety of programs are offered by community volunteers who expand

and enhance the course offerings and opportunities for our incarcerated population. 24 students/inmates

earned their HiSet diplomas in 2020. Due to COVID-19 most education services were suspended until
safe social distancing and COVID-19 procedures could be put in place.
HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAMMING
PROJECT RE-ENTRY PROGRAM: Project Reentry is a program that assists inmates with wrap
around services and support when they are released from jail. Through Bureau of Justice Grant, the
Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office was able to hire a part-time Reentry Specialist who helps screen,

then develop a comprehensive reentry plan for those participants who are both mentally ill and have
a substance use disorder. Project Reentry provides integrative reentry services to include treatment,
housing and support to individuals returning to society from incarceration. Thirty-Nine (39) inmates
participated in the Project Re-Entry Program in 2020, with 8 people completing the program.
Community Corrections

The main focus of the Community Corrections Program is to help inmates reclaim their lives. This is

done by teaching inmates skills such as how to write a check, finding jobs, paying fines and restitution
and completing community service. This program is open to inmates who are non violent and

classified as low to moderate risk of offending while in the program.
ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING
An option for individuals who have received their first conviction of Operating Under the Influence

(OUI) is the Alternative Sentencing Program. In lieu of spending three days inside the jail, the offender

pays a fine and performs 16 hours of service to the community. This takes place at various locations

such as schools or other governmental buildings. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only one session of
Alternative Sentencing Program was held in 2020.

The community benefits greatly by these services being performed at no cost. The offender benefits by

understanding the critical nature of their offense while paying their debt to society in a way that actually
matters.

The program is staffed the entire time by no less than two Corrections Officers whose job is to manage

the program and maintain safety.

Community Service Campus Crew & Refinement Program
Despite the lower number of inmates in Providing maintenance support for the Sheriff ’s
Community Corrections for 2020, the Office campus, the crew provided 3,612 hours

Community Service Program provided 4,075 of service, saving the Cumberland County Sheriff ’s
hours of labor to Cumberland County non-profi t Office $50,568 in labor costs for 2020.

organizations, saving them $57,050.
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