May 25, 2021
Story and portrait by Brandon Steinert
This is the first of four stories about how SWAG合集's educational programs in correctional facilities aim to help inmates lead productive lives upon release.听
James Floyd has missed 10 years of his children鈥檚 lives serving a 12-year sentence after his conviction in 2011. His oldest is now 20; his youngest, 16.
He will release in two years, and he is determined to build a legitimate life for himself and his family when the time comes. During his time at Ellsworth Correctional Facility, he has finished both a welding certificate and a high school equivalency degree, which is the same as a high school diploma.
鈥淚 have my children waiting on me,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e missed so many years. I鈥檓 looking forward to having a relationship with them. I want to show them where I came from and where I鈥檓 at now, like 鈥榣ook, I鈥檝e made some bad choices but I鈥檝e made something better out of myself.鈥欌
His version of a better life has a couple of steps, which starts with him putting his newfound welding skills to work so he can afford the training to do what he considers to be his calling.
鈥淗aving a welding degree and a high school diploma will open so many doors for me,鈥 he said. 鈥淲elding will be kind of a crutch. It will get me stable financially, but won鈥檛 be my career. I really want to go pursue being a barber. It鈥檚 a passion of mine and I鈥檓 good at it.鈥
Most inmates in the correctional system will be released back into society, and many are re-admitted after repeating an offense or committing a new crime 鈥 a trend called recidivism. The Kansas three-year recidivism rate is 33 percent.
The difference between a world where Floyd might become a statistic as a repeat offender, and one where he re-enters society as a contributing and productive citizen, is the quality of opportunity available to him at the time of transition.
Enter the State of Kansas鈥 Pathway to Career High School Equivalency Program and a partnership between the Kansas Department of Corrections and SWAG合集. Inmates can take courses and select career and technical programs offered by SWAG合集, in a face-to-face setting while incarcerated. The Pathway to Career program allows students to earn a high school equivalency credential by passing certain college courses rather than requiring the credential before being allowed to take college-level classes.听
The hoped-for result is a more successful transition to society for releasing inmates, which translates to reduced recidivism. Floyd was one of the first four to complete听the program. All four utilized SWAG合集's program at ECF.
Floyd said his gratitude for these resources听and the opportunities they afford is so potent it鈥檚 difficult to put it into words.
鈥淚鈥檓 41 years old and I never thought I would get my diploma,鈥 he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just so thankful. I told my grandma on the phone and she just started crying. To me, this is everything. I grew up with a learning disability, but now I鈥檝e done something I can be proud of, and I鈥檓 motivated to get out and do more.
鈥淭he sky is the limit.鈥
For more information, go to听.