Northern Essex Community College, in partnership with Essex County Sheriff’s Department, is providing educational rehabilitation for Essex County inmates to drive down repeat offenses.
The college offers the program at five locations across the county for up to 160 inmates. Available classes include High School Equivalency, English for Other Languages, college and career readiness, computer literacy and college credit courses in English and U.S. history.
“We’ve made a commitment to providing opportunities for inmates to improve themselves through our Consolidated Re-entry Services division with a continuum of services, including education services, career and college readiness advising, life skills, vocational training programs and more. Northern Essex is vital partner in these efforts,” said Essex County Sheriff Kevin Coppinger.
The classes are also offered at the Lawrence Pre-release and Re-entry Center as well as at the Offices of Community Corrections in Lawrence, Salisbury and Lynn, where the classes act as a condition of probation or parole.
According to a 2013 study by the Research and Development Corporation, inmates who attended education programs while in prison were 43% less likely to return.
“Investments in education provide inmates with the tools needed to get a job and/or continue their education. The resulting outcomes can be life changing for individuals and their families while making our communities safer,” said Adam Cutler, director of education, corrections at Northern Essex.