Jail HSE offers positive step

Two years after the inception of an education program at the Jay County Jail, it has helped 23 inmates earn high school diplomas.

The jail’s High School Equivalency (HSE) program was created and implemented two years ago under then-Sheriff Ray Newton and John Jay Center for Learning executive director Rusty Inman.

The inmate class is taught by Neal Rich, who retired as principal at Northwest Elementary School in Decatur two years ago. Rich said being in jail gives inmates time to try and better themselves, without distractions from the outside world.

“They’ve got addiction problems, they’ve got relationship issues, they’ve got financial issues. But once they get incarcerated, they’re kind of in a holding pattern. So it’s a good time for them to get an education,” Rich said.

Only non-violent offenders qualify to join the HSE program, which was previously known as GED, and they must have good behavior to be admitted.

The class size can fluctuate, because of the differing length of jail stays for inmates, but Rich said his class is usually between eight and 17 inmates. Male and female classes are taught twice a week, for 90 minutes each session.

Sean Adams and Parker Squier, two current inmates who went through the program and received their diplomas, said it helped them do something productive and positive while they were in jail.

“This is the best program the jail has. I tried lots of times out on the streets to get (a diploma), but it wasn’t until I got here that I got it completed,” Squier said.

Classes are structured in the same way as adult HSE classes at John Jay.

As opposed to a standard high school class, adult education classes are tailored to the different strengths and weaknesses of individual students. That means that there is no fixed timeline for a student to be ready to take the HSE exam.

For Adams, it took about three months. On Monday, he found out he passed.

“It was awesome,” Adams said. “I didn’t expect to pass.”

Squier, who received his diploma earlier this year, described a similar feeling.

“It was a big relief. I got something accomplished that was positive,” Squier said.

The inmates are grateful for the chance to improve themselves, Rich said.

“They really appreciate anybody who’s trying to help them. I think they perceive that by John Jay sending a teacher over there, that’s the community extending itself to them,” Rich said. “And they show a lot of appreciation for that.”

Squier and Adams spoke highly of Rich, saying that his thorough teaching was a big part of their success.

Inmate students study for the state HSE exam that tests reading, writing, science, math and social studies. Once Rich thinks the student will pass, they are administered the multi-day exam by John Jay student services advisor Carolyn Carducci.

John Jay funds the program, but the jail pays for the HSE exam.

Of the inmates that have taken the test, all but one have eventually passed and received an HSE diploma. Four more are currently in the midst of the examination process, and four other inmates started at the jail program and finished elsewhere.

Inmates who complete the HSE program can receive a six-month reduction on their sentence if the are incarcerated in Indiana Department of Correction. But Carducci said there are added intangible benefits for inmates who go through the class.

She said most inmates had bad experiences when they were in high school, explaining that “when they come into a program like this and have success, it’s a big deal for them.”

Carducci added that the program helps inmates feel self-worth.

“What I see is confidence and self-esteem," she said. "It’s fun to tell them they passed, everybody’s face lights up.”

Squier agreed, saying that getting his diploma made him look at himself differently.

“It helped a lot with my confidence,” he said.

The program’s impact reaches beyond the inmates. It has touched their teacher and administrator as well.

“I really enjoy the inmate students. There’s just a lot of people that have had tough breaks and they’ve made poor decisions and they’ve gotten themselves into situations. … I feel like they’re just normal people,” Rich said.

“It’s great to be part of the upside of it, to be able to help and contribute,” Carducci said.