Behind bars? You want to be in Richland County for this

It’s almost like kindergarten, watching Jessica Blizzard teach a short story to an attentive group – except that she knows some of her students might end up in prison very soon.

That’s because she leads a new program at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center called “Self Sufficiency 101.” Blizzard is a social worker at the Richland County Public Library, which launched the program in January. It aims to help men at the jail learn skills in literacy, finance and fatherhood.

 

“There are so many people that come in from outside to help and teach you things,” Copeland said. “It really was shocking because I thought they were just going to have like most of the programs (where) they’ve got preachers coming in, and they’ll teach you some Bible study.”

The life skills class offers far more than that. The library brings in speakers on topics ranging from business to yoga, Blizzard said.

The program has been so well-received that organizers are working to expand it and will offer it to women at the jail and juveniles at the state’s Department of Juvenile Justice in October.

“There’s a lot of loss of connection and a lot of sensory deprivation (in jail),” Blizzard said. “So just bringing something challenging and stimulating and hopeful to them has been really powerful. The response has been overwhelming.”

 

“I have goals that I need to set as far as my sobriety and my recovery,” Withrow said. “A big reason I’m in here is because I’m an alcoholic.”

 

“It helps you with stress and anger,” Goree said.

But despite the benefits, it’s difficult to reach some of the younger men in the jail, Copeland said.

“They want to be hard,” Copeland said. “It should be mandatory for anyone that’s 17 to 21 to go through this program, because it might help them better when they get out in the world again.”

Some young folks do make their way into the program, though. Blizzard said the youngest student she has had was 19, while the oldest was in his 60s.

Though much of the focus is on helping men get back into society, some students go the other way. Blizzard said some of those she has taught have left the jail for a longer stay in prison.

“The emotional literacy is the main thing I think really supports them if they do go on to be incarcerated for longer periods of time,” Blizzard said. “That gives them some coping skills to manage being in a stressful environment.”

Along with better coping skills, Blizzard said, she hopes the classes teach the men to get involved with other programs if they do go to prison.

“That’s the hope, that we give them some encouragement to take this time, take classes, do whatever you can do at that facility,” Blizzard said. “So that when you are eventually released – whether that’s 10, 20 years down the road – you’ve got more than you came in with.”

In fact, Blizzard said, she heard from one of her former students who went to prison and did just that.

Now, looking toward October, organizers are hopeful. The initial launch was funded by a one-time grant of $30,000, and the library tentatively has been approved for a grant to help with expansion.

After that, organizers hope to find other sources of funding to continue the program, Blizzard said – and jail officials are supportive. Lt. Tynika Legette, who oversees programs at the detention center, said the life skills class has gotten very positive feedback.

“Some of the sessions that take place are different from what the department has ever had before,” Legette said.

This story was originally published August 20, 2016 at 9:23 PM.