Jail Program Trains Inmates For Jobs After Release

Evansville IN

28 August, 2021

9:34 AM

Description

By Steve Burger, WNIN Aug. 28, 2021 The food at the Vanderburgh County Jail may be a little better these days, thanks to four of the inmates housed there. The group was honored Thursday after completing a food handling certification program sponsored by Aramark. The goal of the program is to cut recidivism among inmates by qualifying them for jobs in the food service industry upon their release. Michael Henschen, who is awaiting trial on drug charges, says the program will help inmates reach that goal. "(The program) Definitely gives me the opportunity to get a job, which I didn't have before, and this is actually the first time I've completed something in a long time, since I was younger, so that's a big deal also." The food handling certification lasts for three years and can be renewed, even if the inmate is still incarcerated.. Sheriff's Department and Aramark officials say they'll continue the program with another group of inmates. Despite a cancelled luncheon, Equality Day was celebrated in Evansville Thursday. The town of Newburgh is seeking public comment as it plans to expand its borders. An inmate was found dead at the Vanderburgh County Jail over the weekend. WNIN is the NPR/PBS affiliate in Evansville, Indiana. We serve Southwestern Indiana, Western Kentucky and Southern Illinois from our multimedia facility located on the Ohio River in downtown Evansville. For the past several years, the recognized quality of our local news has placed us among the best small market radio news organizations in the nation.