Inmates get 'step up'

SPANISH FORK — A new group of inmates passes through about every 20 minutes. The paths they've taken to arrive at this spot are different — but they share the same desire: to start a new life after serving their jail sentences.

The man standing at the front of a classroom can help them find their way.

Dennis Hales is head of the Adult School-to-Careers program, which helps adults receive training for careers. For seven years, he has recruited inmates from the Utah County Jail to enroll in career training at Utah Valley State College and Mountainland Applied Technology Center.

"When we first started, we were the only ones coming in," Hales said. "Now, there's others." For instance, he said, Alpine, Provo and Nebo school districts have programs to help inmates earn a GED.

At a recent session, Hales began his we-can-help-you-help-yourself lecture as a group of nine women entered the classroom at the jail. "Basically, what we do is get you to where you want to be, in terms of school and training," he said.

"Now comes the fun part," said Hales' colleague Ernest Krey, who distributes career tests that help inmates determine interests.

"This is not a test. You guys can help each other. This is a group effort. We don't care."

Hales tells the women not to overanalyze the questions on the papers.

"Your first impression is usually the best," he said.

There's a $500 scholarship that Hales told the women they could receive.

Hales sends the women off with instructions to finish the test and application paperwork. When they are released from jail, he says, he'll help research earning potential in careers that the test indicated they would enjoy.

"When we sit down with you, we can list some goals for you," he said. "So when you get out of here, give us a call, come in and we can find classes or apprenticeships."

Adult School-to-Careers has other programs in addition to the work with the inmates. Of the 700 to 800 inmates with whom Hales meets each year, about 200 to 250 follow through when they are released from jail.

About 20 to 30 percent of people who follow through end up taking classes.

"I don't think you can get 100 percent with any human endeavor," Hales said. "But a lot of them apply for jobs in the areas they identified on the test."