Joe Taylor is done selling crack on the streets.
Now, after completing the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center”s new Graduate Equivalency Diploma program, the 31-year-old inmate wants to become an electrician.
Taylor is one of six inmates who recently graduated from the program, which has been defunct for about 10 years.
“(Getting a GED) is definitely a step in the right direction for people who messed up and went to jail,” he said. “It helps them get on the right path.”
The program fizzled out because instructors were not available, said Sheriff Butch Howard.
“The program just sort of went by the wayside,” he said.
But now, thanks to a partnership with East Mississippi Community College, the program is back and highly successful with inmates.
“After folks seen us come back into the zone (where inmates are kept), they wanted to try it for themselves,” said 33-year-old Jay Hamm, who also earned his GED.
Hamm, who is serving a sentence for possession of precursors, said he intends to go to technical school to learn motorcycle mechanics.
Jail Administrator Billy Pickens said several inmates are waiting for their chance to get in the class now.
“If they ain”t got (their GED),” Taylor said, “there ain”t no better place to start than now.”
Sixteen inmates were enrolled in the class after taking an entrance examination, Pickens said. The others are still working towards their GEDs.
“Just about all of them said they wouldn”t have gotten their GEDs if they had not been incarcerated,” Howard said.
The inmates worked with EMCC Instructor Jim Bearden on their weak points to prepare for the test, which is administered by EMCC.
“He showed us he was dedicated to his job,” Taylor said of Bearden.
The cost of the tests and the classes is paid for entirely by EMCC and from the jail canteen, where inmates buy things like cigarettes and sodas.
“The county”s not out one cent for any of this,” Howard said. “It”s a win-win situation for us.”
The class meets twice a week now, although a night class may be added because of the program”s popularity with the inmates, Pickens said.
“They”re very receptive,” he added.
Hamm said he was thrilled the program is back in place and is becoming successful.
“It”s a good thing to allow us to take the GED while we”re locked up,” he said, gesturing in approval with his cuffed hands.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
