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A
key component in Sheriff Woody’s administration is improving reentry
programs in the Richmond City Jail. To do this, Sheriff Woody
increased the focus on the Jail’s two instrumental reentry programs:
BELIEF
and Education. According to the Sheriff, the public is
often surprised to learn about how few people in jail have access to
services that tackle the problems that contributed to their
incarceration in the first place.
The Richmond City Jail is proud of the men and women who accepted the
challenge to improve their lives through education, personal
development, and overcoming the grasp of substance abuse. With
limited resources, Education and BELIEF programs change inmates’ lives
for the better, which in turn make the community a safer place to live
when ex-offenders are released and lowers the high occurrence of
recidivism. While a new jail is needed, the solution for
recidivism goes past bricks and mortar. A new jail is one step of
many towards a comprehensive solution. A first step is for local
businesses and community organizations to reconsider their policies on
hiring ex-offenders and give them a real chance of succeeding once they
are released.
BELIEF (Becoming, Experienced,
Liberated, Introspective, Encouraged & Free)
BELIEF staff consists
of a rehabilitation counselor, a social worker, a team of deputies, and
resident facilitators who host semi-annual ceremonies recognizing
participant accomplishments with certificates of completion. To offset
scarce funding, BELIEF partnered with federal, state and city officials,
faith-based organizations, neighboring jurisdictions and non-profit
organizations to improve the program through alternate funding,
donations and volunteer assistance.
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A
voluntary program designed to assist individuals in altering their
negative social behavior, including addiction.
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Participants go through an application process to enter the program
and are housed in a separate, structured living setting.
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Once
accepted, participants must remain clean, sober, and willing to
positively change their lives upon reentering the community.
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The
program consists of four phases, which provide tools of recovery
while building self-esteem on a spiritual foundation.
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Geared to lower recidivism through a structured, individualized
program.
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Participants spend about 12 hours each day in classroom activities
and group discussion.
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Motivational guest speakers and subject-matter experts instruct
various classes.
Education
Program
 Education
Program Since Sheriff Woody took office, the Education Tier
expanded from 13 resident participants to over 50 men who live
on the tier. However, to exponentially increase the number of
students participating in the educational program, inmates from
the jail’s general population are brought to the Education Tier
during the day.
Currently, a
staff of two employees coordinates coursework, enrolls daily
participants, escorts day students coming into the tier and
returns exiting students at the end of the program day.
Only months
into Sheriff Woody's term, the Women's Education program resumed
after years of neglect.
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