News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Warren County Jail developing education courses for inmates after running into an issue with an earlier proposed CDL class.
Some $800,000 in grant money going to the project. Warren County Executive Terry Bell said they had to pivot after realizing most inmates would not qualify for CDL classes. Bell said anyone taking the CDL Program needed a clean driving record for at least five years, of which most inmates did not.
“We reworked that grant a little,” Bell said. “Had to resubmit some paperwork and we’ve been, we’ve got a mobile home trailer out there that we’ve been renovating at the present time, doing construction work on it to where we can hold classes in that trailer for the construction classes.”
Bell said the jail has completed the bid process to construct an additional building where inmates can conduct class training. Bell said construction for the building should begin January 1st. He hopes classes could begin by late spring.
“We were able to get it changed to where we could build this building,” Bell said. “To where they could actually build tiny homes or small barns in it and expand that program. And we had more people who could qualify for the carpentry classes.”
Bell said the goal of the program is to eventually work with judges to allow inmates to work wearing ankle monitors at the end of their sentencing.
“Let those go out and work and let those people actually earn a little money,” Bell said. “So when they get out of jail they’re not just thrown out without any money and some of those people don’t have a place to live.”
Bell said the inmates would be allowed to work during set hours to help businesses in the construction industry that are in need. Bell said the jail is also still talking to different companies who would employ the trained inmates after their release.
