To assist inmates with their incarceration and re acclamation into society, the Henderson County
Detention Center has implemented various programs designed to address practical real life issues
facing offenders attempting to reintegrate into the community following a potentially long period of
incarceration.
With assistance from New Genesis Jail Ministry, HCDC offers multiple religious services and programs for
all inmates. A few of the programs that are offered by the New Genesis Jail Ministry are: One-On-One
Counseling Services, Church Services, Bible Study, Muslim Services, Life Changing Programs (LCP),
and 12 step programs.
In conjunction with Henderson Community College HCDC provides GED classes and testing to all
inmates trying to improve or complete their education. The Inmate Services Branch at HCDC assists
with placing inmates in GED classes and facilitating testing.
The Department of Corrections (DOC) has numerous evidence-based programs for eligible state
inmates. The Class D Department at HCDC assists with getting eligible inmates enrolled in programs
and even teaches some of these programs. The evidence-based programs currently offered at
HCDC are:
>>Moral Recognition Therapy (MRT): combines group presentations and individual assignments,
along with facilitator guidance when necessary. The program was designed in a criminal justice
setting for offenders involved in the criminal justice system. MRT targets an offender's belief system
and attempts to raise their level of moral reasoning in their decision-making process. The MRT
program has been researched for over thirty years and has proven reduction in recidivism levels at
multiple points of progress within the program, as well as after overall program completion. MRT is
designed to achieve formal program completion after 12 in-group steps. 90-day program credit upon
completion.
>>MRT Mentor: strives to ensure a higher success rate for those who have previously completed MRT.
A Mentor within the MRT program will be held to a higher behavioral expectation than those
participating in the MRT group. Mentorship is beneficial for both the offender serving as the mentor,
as well as for the offenders participating in the MRT program. Participants must complete a total of
twelve (12) dedicated 'helping sessions' where the mentor's focus is exclusively assisting regular MRT
group participants with no focus on their own step work. 90-day program credit upon completion.
> >Anger Management: designed to assist offenders in recognizing and overcoming anger. This
program includes completion of 8 modules with a minimum of 8-10 group sessions. 90-day program
credit upon completion.
>>Parenting: focuses on family values, individual priorities and is appropriate for all parents. (This
program is currently only offered to those eligible that are enrolled in female SAP and SOAR). 90-day
program credit upon completion.
>>PORTAL-New Directions: designed to provide information and resources to address the most
common reentry needs and barriers. Some barriers addressed in this program are housing,
employment, transportation, money management, parenting, etc. 60-day program credit upon
completion.
- - Inmates are placed on the above program waiting lists once DOC classifies them. The Class D
Department manages this waiting list. - -
HCDC has a male and female Substance Abuse Program (SAP). A six (6) month treatment
opportunity for those individuals assessed with substance use disorder and classified to be housed in
a jail setting. Inmates in these programs are housed separately from the general jail population,
thereby forming their own community. This encourages responsibility and accountability through peer
support and uninterrupted focus on substance use treatment. 90-day program credit upon completion.
HCDC has a female Supporting Others in Active Recovery (SOAR) program. A program that supports
inmates in their goal to stay in a safe recovery supportive environment after completing their
program. SOAR is targeted towards relapse prevention, education, and reentry skills/resources. SOAR
is also designed to encourage family communication and engagement. SOAR inmates are given the
opportunity to participate in Family Engagement events. During these events, family and participants
are given an opportunity to learn the importance of family involvement and recovery. 90-day program
credit upon completion.
- - Inmates are placed in the above programs by DOC. DOC also determines when and where the
inmate will participate in the above programs - -
Educational programs are not the only programs HCDC offers. There are various work programs for
eligible inmates to provide them with on-the-job training. The Department of Corrections is
responsible for determining all state inmates' classification levels and eligibility for work for time credit.
HCDC houses community level, minimum level, and medium level state inmates. Community and
minimum level state inmates are authorized to be outside of the secured area of the facility, while
medium level state inmates must remain inside the secured area of the facility. Work assignments that
are offered inside the secured area include: maintenance, laundry, janitorial, and kitchen. Work
assignments that are offered outside of the secured area include: commissary, male Community
Service Program (CSP), and female CSP.
The Community Service Program was developed to assist the county with cleanup efforts and
beautification. This program allows the inmates to work outside and be involved with community
projects while assisting their own efforts at reentry into society. The Community Service Program picks
up litter, scrap metal and used tires throughout the county that have been left along roadways.
The program also mows and maintains grounds through various parts of Henderson.
CSP inmates' plant and keep up gardens which produce several pounds of vegetables that are
then consumed by the inmate population as well as, a worm sanctuary which produces organic
fertilizer used in the gardens. These same inmate workers maintain and service all equipment used in
the Community Service Program.
CSP also has a bike program in which inmates refurbish old bicycles and makes them "new" again
to donate them to the Salvation Army for children at Christmas.
- - Inmates learn a variety of new skills and gain knowledge even while incarcerated. - - |
