McCracken inmate vocational training expands to Marshall, Calloway

Inmate vocational training programs are expanding from McCracken County into Marshall and Calloway Counties.

The McCracken County Regional Jail has been offering G.E.D. and vocational training programs for the last several years, but now, they are growing the programs. 

Starting with a program designed to train deckhands for the river companies, McCracken County will be hosting inmates from Marshall and Calloway Counties. McCracken County Jailer David Knight said the initial class would involve 22 inmates.

Knight said community partners have stepped up in support of the initiatives, both materially and financially--so much so, that no tax dollars go toward any of the programs. 

Knight also said that they've seen a much lower percentage of inmates come back into the system, after participating in programs like this.

"When about 80% of our people come back, something isn't going right. Since we've started this, and we have a much shorter study time, 18% of our people have come back. That's a huge turnaround."

With donated materials, inmates from the jail's welding program have constructed a practice barge deck behind the jail, near downtown. The deck helps inmates get some hands-on experience, in addition to the classroom work.

Transportation has been a bit of a roadblock, but Calloway County Jailer Ken Claud said they have found a solution.

"We're partnering with Marshall County Jailer Roger Ford to be able to overcome some of the transportation issues that we've seen arise."

All three jailers see the benefits of giving inmates a hand up, in an effort to help them get back on the right track. Not only does it benefit the community, according to Knight, he has seen the ripple effect on people.

"Turning their lives around to where they're going home to their families... little kids, now, have parents... parents, now, have their children back. One person that you change isn't just that one person, you're probably effecting 10 to 20 different people, when you get one going in the right direction."



(Photo from L to R- Marshall County Jailer Roger Ford, Calloway County Jailer Ken Claud, and McCracken County Jailer David Knight standing on the practice barge deck used in the Deckhand training program.)