Corrections_Today_May_June_2023_Vol.85_No.3

NEWS&VIEWS

development of a robust program that was designed to be transparent and to provide a completely new educational opportunity for incar cerated individuals and wrap-around services for community reentry. The Office of Sheriff engages in a rigor ous social media and professional media campaign to keep the com munity up to date on the progress of IGNITE. Facing challenges The COVID-19 pandemic was a major obstacle during the final stages of planning and implementation of IGNITE, but the commitment of the people involved and their ability to focus on program goals and objec tives helped ensure program success. Also, the Office of Sheriff worked diligently to create an environment within the jail that followed CDC guidelines, which allowed for the continued completion of the IGNITE rollout. The Office of Sheriff did not have its first confirmed case of CO VID-19 until October 8, 2020, nearly 7 months after the pandemic began. In addition to COVID-19, ob stacles related to program cost and Internet accessibility had to be resolved. Costs associated with the program are covered by the imple mentation of commissary tablets for the participants for use when they are not in school; these tablets provide them with the ability to use email, conduct video visits, play games, watch movies and order commissary. Revenue from this initiative covers the cost of IGNITE programming. Also note Global Tele-link and Gen esee County Information Technology worked diligently with the sheriff’s office to install two dedicated Wi-Fi

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Anyone incarcerated in the Genesee County Jail is eligible to participate in IGNITE, allowing for the simul taneous engagement of people from diverse backgrounds and abilities. Also, participants have access to the Internet, allowing them the ability to complete virtual training programs, email resumes and explore job opportunities. How Ignite serves Two assigned sheriff deputies coordinate the routine operations of IGNITE, providing daily reports to the sheriff, jail administrator and executive staff. In addition to maintaining a safe and secure environment, the deputies (each a certified corrections deputy with pro fessional backgrounds in education and leadership) routinely interact with the incarcerated people in their care to address their concerns while overseeing the class schedules and programs. But in addition to the efforts of the staff assigned to this

project, the success of IGNITE is a result of the coordination and involvement of community part ners and/or stakeholders, e.g., Mt. Morris Community Schools, NFL Alumni-Detroit Chapter, Coach Jim Harbaugh — University of Michigan, Chief Justice Bridget McCormack — Michigan Supreme Court, Devon Gardner, Braylon Ed wards, Randy Wise Buick GMC, the Genesee County Board of Commis sioners, the Michigan Department of Corrections, the Sports Marketing Agency, Auto Zone — Detroit Re gion, Aramark, Genesee Intermediate School District, Mott Community College, Global Tele-Link, Genesee County Ambassadors, and Genesee County Community Action Resource Department . The Office of Sheriff engaged the community and partners over a 12-month period during the devel opment of IGNITE. During this time, the community and partners were involved in the planning and

16 — May/June 2023 Corrections Today