Putnam Jail Named Receives Grant To Help Reduce Recidivism

The Putnam County Jail has been named one of 19 to receive state grant funding to help create or enhance programs that reduce recidivism.

Sheriff Eddie Farris said that the $20,000 grant will be used to purchase laptops and computers to help with the adult education program.

“We’re always hoping to help our inmates get back on track and be productive citizens here in Putnam County,” Farris said. “So it’s worked out well for us. So we’re looking forward to get going.”

Farris said that the Putnam County Adult Education office is helping teach the program, which includes various courses and help with getting GEDs. He said that while there have been inmate success stories of getting their lives back on track, that number is not high enough.

Farris said that recidivism rates across the United States sit at around 85 percent. He said that much of the recurring incarceration has to do with drug addiction.

“We do help a few occasionally get their lives turned around and get them to be a productive citizen,” Farris said. “That is something that we all strive to do, that’s what we should be trying to do. But it’s very slow. I will say that the drug addition really drives the recidivism rate here in Putnam County and not just here but everywhere in the United States.”

Farris said that the Adult Education program was started before COVID but had to slow down because of the pandemic. He said that they are ready and excited to push the program further through this grant to help more inmates.