Work program benefits inmates

The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office started a program in December to offer welder training to Work Release residents.

A Work Release resident is an inmate with two years or less remaining on their sentence and housed at a facility east of Raceland on U.S 90. Only 13 such facilities exist in Louisiana.

A Work Release resident will have been a model inmate and incarcerated for a non-sexual, non-violent crime, according to Sheriff Craig Webre. To date, 34 employers in the Lafourche Parish participate in the program.

The program is part of a combined effort between the Louisiana Dept. of Public Safety, Louisiana Technical College Lafourche Campus and the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Residents are transported to classes at the technical college campus in Thibodaux for 10-hour classes on Saturday and six-hour classes on Sundays. The residents have regular jobs during the week, and pay their own room and board as they prepare to return to society, the sheriff said.

“Education is the key to advancement,” Webre said. “Those who continue to learn new skills will be in a better position for gainful employment in the workforce now and when they re-enter society. Companies are always looking for skilled laborers for the workforce and the opportunities for these men of making a very good living and being productive in the community is within their grasp.”

LTC Dean Cindy Poskey and the Webre teamed up to create the program to give the Work Release residents a marketable skill.

Poskey secured the grant monies to fund the program.

Graduates of the first program may soon be able to enroll in advanced training in welding and other skills in the near future, the sheriff said.

Work program benefits inmates