InRoads program helps create job opportunities for inmates...
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Page A28 • May 16, 2013 • Inland Empire Community Newspapers InRoads program helps create job opportunities for inmates outside prison walls By Yazmin Alvarez I nmates at Glen Helen Reha- bilitation Center are being taught a variety of job skills to help them adjust to life outside prison walls through the Inmate Rehabilitation Through Occupa- tional and Academic Development (InRoads) program. Established 15 years ago, the pro- gram offers inmates more than 25 classes aimed at helping them at- tain employment and ease transi- tion upon release through job training as they await release. On of InRoads’ most known pro- grams is its bakery at Glen Helen, where instructors teach inmates how to create breads, pastries and meals daily to help feed the county’s inmate population. As their skills grow, inmates are able to expand their creativity and are allowed to use pipe decorations and other materials to make prod- ucts that even “The Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro would be proud of. “We see that in the culinary pro- gram, they are able to see an end product, and that develops a sense of pride in them for the work they created,” said Miriam Gomez, In- Roads program coordinator. “It’s pretty amazing to see the turn- around in these guys. You see big, tough-looking men with tattoos - who some have only worked in construction all their life - making dainty decorations on fruit and roses and cakes. It’s something new to them, and we see a differ- ence in them.” The success rate of the program has been notable, Gomez said. Many former inmates have been direct - sometimes almost immedi- ately - at area bakeries upon their released. Over the last year, 49 for- mer inmates have earned gainful employment.. “They haven’t come back to us. And we don’t want them to. That’s the biggest benefit in all this,” she said. But until the are released, certain security measures are in place to keep inmates under control and not walking away with blades or addi- tional objects that could be turned into a weapon. However, bakers seem more in- terested in behaving than causing problems, Gomez said. “The in- mates here love to be in the bakery. It keeps them busy and out of (trouble).” While the bakery’s products are not for sale to the public, inmates’ products are made available to the community outside prison walls, through community events spear- headed by Supervisor Josie Gon- zales, county officials said. Some of the most requested items are tuxedo strawberries and cheesecakes. “Their foods are pretty tasty. I al- most don’t want to walk by the bakery sometimes because I don’t want to be tempted,” said Gonza- les, who serves the county’s fifth district. With Gonzales’ support on board, the program is expanding. In April, the County Board of Su- pervisors passed an item providing additional job skills to county in- mates. And as a result, the InRoads program gained an additional in- structor for the Inmate Culinary Program, said the county. An average of 350 to 400 inmates from the county’s four facilities - Glen Helen, west Valley, Adelanto and Central detention centers - participate in the program, with about 50 inmates baking at the Glen Helen facility along. And close to 40 are taking part in the culinary program, Gomez said. Coordinators try to enroll in- mates in both the vocational and intervention programs, so “they have a tool kit to help them transi- tion into the community.” Inmates who successfully com- plete the program receive a certifi- cate in competency in Restaurant Occupations from the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, along with a food han- dler’s certificate from the County’s Department of Public Health. “The InRoads program has liter- ally transformed lives. We’ve seen examples of individuals going through this program, being given the opportunity to learn a new skill and capitalize on it by obtaining a career once they have been re- leased,” said Gonzales. “Having that kind of positive opportunity gives them the courage to beat the odds and defeat recidivism. As a result, our county is safer and moving in the direction we want to go.” PHOTO COURTESY INROADS, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT Inmates involved in the InRoads program are offered opportu- nites to cater county events. PHOTO COURTESY INROADS, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT An inmate fills freshly baked cupcakes as part of the InRoads program. PHOTO COURTESY INROADS, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT InRoads program inmates at Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center. Hermosa GArdens Cemetery An- nual MEMORIAL DAY Remembrance of Veterans
Transcript of InRoads program helps create job opportunities for inmates...
Page A28 • May 16, 2013 • Inland Empire Community Newspapers
InRoads program helps create job opportunities for inmates outside prison wallsBy Yazmin Alvarez
Inmates at Glen Helen Reha-bilitation Center are beingtaught a variety of job skills
to help them adjust to life outsideprison walls through the InmateRehabilitation Through Occupa-tional and Academic Development(InRoads) program.Established 15 years ago, the pro-
gram offers inmates more than 25classes aimed at helping them at-tain employment and ease transi-tion upon release through jobtraining as they await release.On of InRoads’ most known pro-
grams is its bakery at Glen Helen,where instructors teach inmateshow to create breads, pastries andmeals daily to help feed thecounty’s inmate population.As their skills grow, inmates are
able to expand their creativity andare allowed to use pipe decorationsand other materials to make prod-ucts that even “The Cake Boss”Buddy Valastro would be proud of.“We see that in the culinary pro-
gram, they are able to see an endproduct, and that develops a senseof pride in them for the work theycreated,” said Miriam Gomez, In-Roads program coordinator. “It’spretty amazing to see the turn-around in these guys. You see big,tough-looking men with tattoos -who some have only worked inconstruction all their life - makingdainty decorations on fruit androses and cakes. It’s somethingnew to them, and we see a differ-ence in them.”The success rate of the program
has been notable, Gomez said.Many former inmates have been
direct - sometimes almost immedi-ately - at area bakeries upon theirreleased. Over the last year, 49 for-mer inmates have earned gainfulemployment..“They haven’t come back to us.
And we don’t want them to. That’sthe biggest benefit in all this,” shesaid.But until the are released, certain
security measures are in place tokeep inmates under control and notwalking away with blades or addi-tional objects that could be turnedinto a weapon.However, bakers seem more in-
terested in behaving than causingproblems, Gomez said. “The in-mates here love to be in the bakery.It keeps them busy and out of(trouble).”While the bakery’s products are
not for sale to the public, inmates’products are made available to thecommunity outside prison walls,
through community events spear-headed by Supervisor Josie Gon-zales, county officials said.Some of the most requested items
are tuxedo strawberries andcheesecakes.“Their foods are pretty tasty. I al-
most don’t want to walk by thebakery sometimes because I don’twant to be tempted,” said Gonza-les, who serves the county’s fifthdistrict.With Gonzales’ support on board,
the program is expanding.In April, the County Board of Su-
pervisors passed an item providingadditional job skills to county in-mates. And as a result, the InRoadsprogram gained an additional in-structor for the Inmate CulinaryProgram, said the county.An average of 350 to 400 inmates
from the county’s four facilities -Glen Helen, west Valley, Adelantoand Central detention centers -participate in the program, with
about 50 inmates baking at theGlen Helen facility along. Andclose to 40 are taking part in theculinary program, Gomez said.Coordinators try to enroll in-
mates in both the vocational andintervention programs, so “theyhave a tool kit to help them transi-tion into the community.”Inmates who successfully com-
plete the program receive a certifi-cate in competency in RestaurantOccupations from the SanBernardino County Superintendentof Schools, along with a food han-dler’s certificate from the County’sDepartment of Public Health.
“The InRoads program has liter-ally transformed lives. We’ve seenexamples of individuals goingthrough this program, being giventhe opportunity to learn a new skilland capitalize on it by obtaining acareer once they have been re-leased,” said Gonzales. “Havingthat kind of positive opportunitygives them the courage to beat theodds and defeat recidivism. As aresult, our county is safer andmoving in the direction we want togo.”
PHOTO COURTESY INROADS, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT
Inmates involved in the InRoads program are offered opportu-nites to cater county events.
PHOTO COURTESY INROADS, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT
An inmate fills freshly baked cupcakes as part of the InRoadsprogram.
PHOTO COURTESY INROADS, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT
InRoads program inmates at Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center.
Hermosa GArdens Cemetery An-
nual MEMORIAL DAY
Remembrance of Veterans
