It is no secret that Alabama’s Correctional system is a nightmare, especially when it comes to our disregard for civil and human rights of the incarcerated felons in our state prisons. That is why we have been under the wrath of the federal court system. A new mega prison is being currently constructed, which will help to comply with the federal mandates.

What many Alabamians do not realize is how successful our Alabama Community College System has become over the last decade under the guidance and leadership of Chancellor Jimmy Baker. Most state colleges and junior colleges have seen the numbers of enrollees decline in recent years; however, not in Alabama. Our Alabama Community College system has seen an almost double digit increase in enrollment. This is primarily because the chancellor and system have adopted a modern-day approach to teaching Alabamians skills and crafts that lead to their graduates attaining high paying jobs in Alabama, which are in demand in today’s workforce.

Ninety-seven percent of all Alabama Community College attendees and graduates are from Alabama and almost all graduates have jobs awaiting them in our state. The much-heralded Working for Alabama program, advanced by the legislature last year, would not have been possible without the Community College system. It was the integral ingredient. There is no question that the funds appropriated by the legislature to the Community College system are the most valuable investment made with higher education dollars in our state.

These education trust fund dollars are not only the best and most valuable funds for Alabamian’s future and job growth in our state, these education expenditures are helping the state general fund extensively. The best example is in the area of prison education. Alabama had one of the first prison education programs in the country. Today, Alabama’s prison education program is one of the most premier and successful in the nation.

J.F. Ingram State Technical College and Skills Training Center is the ACCS affiliate that provides prison education in Alabama. Ingram State is headquartered in Deatsville but has locations all over Alabama where there is a prison. Annette Funderburk is president of Ingram State, and she is doing an outstanding job. She is devoted and passionate about her role spearheading prison education.

J.F. Ingram State Technical College offers 21 different programs. The highest demand and most degrees are forklift operator, cabinet making, carpentry, horticulture, HVAC, masonry, plumbing, tree trimming, automotive repair, automotive and diesel mechanics, welding, and barbering and cosmetology. Twenty-seven hundred students are served, annually, with 666 graduates last year. The highest enrollment is welding with the highest retention being barbering. It is estimated that for every dollar spent on correctional education, there is a $4-to-
$5 savings in correctional costs. The most impressive statistic and most important for Alabamians is that offenders, who participate in correctional education, are 48% less likely to return to prison.

The Community College system has recently initiated a correctional officer training school. It is documented in all of the federal court intervention decrees that the lack of correctional officers or prison guards is the reason for rampant crime in the system. Baker and Adult Education Vice Chancellor David Walters have joined with Prison Commissioner John Hamm to create a program to train and educate correctional officers.

ACTIVATE is a joint initiative between the Alabama Department of Corrections and the Alabama Community College System  that offers a no-cost pathway to a career as a correctional officer. This program helps individuals meet the physical and educational standards necessary to join the profession.

The program is part of ADOC’s larger recruitment efforts which has bolstered starting salaries for correctional officers from $52,000 to $58,200 annually plus benefits. The program is based out of Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham and Reid State Technical College in Evergreen. Twenty-three Alabama residents took advantage and graduated from the first classes last year.

Hamm is doing a good job as ADOC Commissioner. He is a lifelong Alabamian and former sheriff of Barbour County. He understands Alabama law enforcement and the Alabama Penal System. The ACCS-ADOC prison education partnership is paying dividends for Alabamians.

Steve Flowers served 16 years in the state legislature. He may be reached at steve@steveflowers.us.