>> WE’RE GONNA RUN THIS EDGE ALL THE WAY OUT. ERIKA: SETTING OUT A NEW PATH. INMATES AT THE ESSEX COUNTY PRE-RELEASE AND RE-ENTRY CENTER IN LAWRENCE CAREFULLY LAY OUT BRICKS UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF DAVID COLLINS. >> THESE HERE ARE GONNA HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED A LITTLE BIT. ERIK A NEW GUARD HOUSE, NEW WALKWAYS, ALL THE WORK OF MEN SERVING A SENTENCE FOR MISTAKES MADE, BUT WHO ARE HOPING TO MAKE A TURNAROUND. >> IT SEEMS LIKE A GREAT THI TO DO WHEN I GET OUT, A POSSIBLE CAREER OR WHATNOT. ERIKA: THAT’S THE IDEA. IT WAS BROUGHT TO SHERIFF KEVIN COPPINGER BY A CORRECTION OFFICER WHO TOOK A CLASS YEARS AGO WITH COLLINS, A MASONRY AND TILE SETTING INSTRUCTOR AT A LOCAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL. >> THIS HAS BEEN A PHENOMENAL EXPERIENCE BECAUSE IT’S A CHANCE FOR ME TO GIVE BACK, AND I’M A FIRM BELIEVER IN THAT. ERIKA: THE NEW HARDSCAPING PROGRAM IS PART OF THE SHERIFF’S PUSH TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM BY BETTER PREPARING INMATES FOR RELEASE. >> HOPEFULLY THEY GO BACK TO SOCIETY, REJOIN FAMILIES, MAYBE REGAIN THEIR EMPLOYMENT AND BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY AND THEY DON’T COME BACK TO SEE US. >> I WASN’T REALLY LIVING WELL AND THAT’S WHY I’M HERE, AND HAVING SOMETHING, KNOWING MAYBE THAT I COULD POSSIBLY GET SOMETHING OUT OF IT, I MEAN, I NEED TO. ERIKA: COLLINS SAYS HE’S BEEN IMPRESSED BY THE ENTHUSIASM OF THE MEN AND THE QUALITY OF THEIR WORK. >> THEY CAN’T WAIT TO GET HE IN THE MORNING AND THEY DON’T WANT TO STOP IN THE AFTERNOON. ERIKA: FUNDED BY A GRANT, UPON COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE AN INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATE. >> I REACHED OUT TO THE FOLKS FROM NEW ENGLAND CONCRETE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION. THEY AUTHORIZED THE CERTIFICATE THE STUDENTS GET AND ALSO IDEAL PAVERS IN WESTFORD. ERIKA: THEY’VE BEEN DONATING ALL THE RAW MATERIALS. SHERIFF COPPINGER CALLS THIS ONE OF THEIR MOST SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS. >> WHILE THEY’RE IN THE CLASSES, OBVIOUSLY THERE’S NO DISCIPLINARY ISSUES SO THAT’S TELLING US THIS IS WORKING FOR THEM. THEY GET CREDIT OFF THEIR SENTENCE FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS, AND WE’RE DOING OUR BEST TO HOOK THEM UP WITH EMPLOYERS. ERIKA: COLLINS SAYS THERE ARE CERTAINLY JOBS TO BE HAD >> A TON OF JOBS. THE CONTRACTORS ARE ALL COMPLAINING THERE’S NOT ENOUGH WORKFORCE. SO THIS IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE GUYS. ERIKA: THE SHERIFF TELLS ME AT LEAST ONE INMATE GOT A JOB RIGHT AFTER HIS RELEASE AND THERE HA BEEN INQUIRIES FROM EMPLOYERS LOOKING TO HIRE MORE. ALSO THE NATIONAL CONCRETE MASONRY ASSOCIATION HAS REACHED OUT ABOUT REPLICAT
5 for Good: Hardscaping certificate program helps Essex County inmates
Local sheriff aims to reduce recidivism by better preparing inmates for release
Updated: 7:28 PM EDT Sep 12, 2019
Inmates at the Essex County Pre-Release and Re-Entry Center have been busy building.With the guidance of masonry and tile-setting instructor David Collins, they have constructed a new guard house and several new walkways. They are currently laying bricks for a seating area around a flag pole.The work is part of a new hardscaping training program at the facility in Lawrence. The idea for the program was brought to Sheriff Kevin Coppinger by a corrections officer who took a class years ago with Collins at a local technical school."This has been a phenomenal experience,” Collins said. “It's a chance for me to give back, and I'm a firm believer in that."The program is part of the sheriff's push to reduce recidivism by betting preparing inmates for release."Hopefully they go back to society, rejoin families, maybe regain their employment and become productive members of society,” Coppinger said. “And, they don't come back to see us."One inmate in the program said learning the trade gives him hope for his future."I wasn't really living well and that's why I'm here,” he said. “Having something, knowing maybe that I could possibly get something out of it, I mean, I need to."Collins said he's been impressed by the enthusiasm of the men and the quality of their work."They can't wait to get here in the morning, and they don't want to stop in the afternoon," Collins said. Funded by a grant, upon completion of the program, participants receive an industry recognized certificate."I reached out to the folks from New England Concrete Manufacturers Association,” Collins said. “They authorized the certificate the students get.”Ideal Pavers in Westford has been donating the raw materials needed for projects. Coppinger called this one of his department’s most successful programs."While they're in the classes, there's no disciplinary issues,” Coppinger said. “That's telling us this is working for them. They get credit off their sentence(s) for participating in this, and we're doing our best to hook them up with employers."Collins said there are certainly jobs to be had."A ton of jobs,” he said. “The contractors are all complaining there's not enough workforce, (that) they need quality trained guys. So, this is a perfect opportunity for these guys."The sheriff said at least one inmate got a job right after his release and there have been more inquiries from employers.He said the program has showed so much promise that the National Concrete Masonry Association contacted him because they’re considering trying to replicate the program across the country.
LAWRENCE, Mass. — Inmates at the Essex County Pre-Release and Re-Entry Center have been busy building.
With the guidance of masonry and tile-setting instructor David Collins, they have constructed a new guard house and several new walkways. They are currently laying bricks for a seating area around a flag pole.
The work is part of a new hardscaping training program at the facility in Lawrence. The idea for the program was brought to Sheriff Kevin Coppinger by a corrections officer who took a class years ago with Collins at a local technical school.
"This has been a phenomenal experience,” Collins said. “It's a chance for me to give back, and I'm a firm believer in that."
The program is part of the sheriff's push to reduce recidivism by betting preparing inmates for release.
"Hopefully they go back to society, rejoin families, maybe regain their employment and become productive members of society,” Coppinger said. “And, they don't come back to see us."
One inmate in the program said learning the trade gives him hope for his future.
"I wasn't really living well and that's why I'm here,” he said. “Having something, knowing maybe that I could possibly get something out of it, I mean, I need to."
Collins said he's been impressed by the enthusiasm of the men and the quality of their work.
"They can't wait to get here in the morning, and they don't want to stop in the afternoon," Collins said.
Funded by a grant, upon completion of the program, participants receive an industry recognized certificate.
"I reached out to the folks from New England Concrete Manufacturers Association,” Collins said. “They authorized the certificate the students get.”
Ideal Pavers in Westford has been donating the raw materials needed for projects. Coppinger called this one of his department’s most successful programs.
"While they're in the classes, there's no disciplinary issues,” Coppinger said. “That's telling us this is working for them. They get credit off their sentence(s) for participating in this, and we're doing our best to hook them up with employers."
Collins said there are certainly jobs to be had.
"A ton of jobs,” he said. “The contractors are all complaining there's not enough workforce, (that) they need quality trained guys. So, this is a perfect opportunity for these guys."
The sheriff said at least one inmate got a job right after his release and there have been more inquiries from employers.
He said the program has showed so much promise that the National Concrete Masonry Association contacted him because they’re considering trying to replicate the program across the country.