BY HANNAH JOHNSON
Collin County jail campus works to reduce repeat inmates
The majority of inmates at Collin County Detention Center have served time in jail before and center o cials are working to change this. Collin County Detention Facility is o ering in-jail programs and classes to inmates in the hopes of reducing recidivism, where a person reo ends and commits a crime after being released, Inmate Program Coordinator Amy Larson said during an open house for the programs. About 94% of inmates in Collin County’s jail have served time previously, she said. The education programs not only improve pub- lic safety, but the jail environment, Larson said. “This is not being soft on crime,” said Johnny Jaquess, Collin County Detention Facility assistant chief deputy. “It’s a strategic way to have better outcomes and make your jail safer … for the sta and for the inmates.” Zooming in Collin College has funded various life skills education courses for more than 100 inmates with the help of an Adult Education and Literacy grant provided by the Texas Workforce Commission, according to a June news release. The in-jail classes are taught by Collin College professors and are part of the Sheri ’s Convicted O ender Re-Entry E ort. The courses are designed for younger or rst-time o enders and focus on personal growth, academic readiness and re-entry preparation, Collin College o cials said. “We don’t just guard inmates here, we lead and manage them and that’s the di erence,” Jaquess said. “That’s what separates Collin County from any jail in the United States.” The rate of individuals re-o ending and
Texas recidivism rates, 2009 2019 The Texas Department of Criminal Justice releases its re-entry and reintegration services report every two years. Recidivism rates are calculated based on the number of individuals who return to jail within three years of release.
Texas
30%
22.3%
21.4%
21% 21%
20.8%
25%
22.3%
21.3%
20.3%
20.3%
14.7%
16.3%
20%
15%
-34.08% percent change
10%
0%
SOURCES: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD COMMUNITY IMPACT
returning to prison within three years of release is 14.7% in Texas, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s biennial report. Studies have shown that educational programs can reduce recidivism by 43%, Larson said. The Washington State Institute for Public Policy found that correctional education returns $5 for every $1 invested. This comes from reduced costs seen in fewer arrests, fewer court cases and lower costs for housing inmates, she said. Since April, Collin College has been o ering practice GED exams to inmates with 60 male and female participants, a Collin College representative said. The college has begun a series of structured classes, with di erent courses such as life skills. “These programs help people re-enter society successfully,” Larson said. “Investing in education behind bars is not just the right thing to do, it’s a scally responsible strategy that improves public safety and strengthens communities.”
The Collin County Detention Facility has capacity for over 1,200 inmates, county documents state.
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