New jail program gives inmates new opportunities

BOWLING GREEN,KY – Tuesday, four Warren County Regional Jail inmates, Lamont Edmonds, Brian Kessinger, Kelve McDowell and Michael Melton graduated from the jail’s six-week IN2WORK program.

The program teaches incarcerated men and women about the fundamentals of food service or retail warehouse environment. In the end, they graduate with their Servsafe certification, and a guaranteed job offer at Aramark after their sentence.

News 40 sat down with McDowell, Edmonds and Melton to hear what they had to say about the program and the future.

“I ended up in Warren County [regional jail], just made a bad decision one morning drinking and driving,” McDowell recalled. “Thankfully, [being here] gave me the time to reflect on myself, and while I was reflecting on myself I was able to accomplish something while I’ve been here taking this time.”

McDowell said of the program, “We’ve done it in our kitchen that we have here at the jail. It’s been a good learning experience.”

Melton agreed that the program was a success. He said, “ I made a lot of bad choices, drinking a lot of alcohol led me here.” but he believes, “[IN2WORK is] getting us ready for the outside world.”

Edmonds said that he regrets his path here, but like his fellow inmates he believes IN2WORK has been a light. “It’s built on skills that I already had,” he said.

“It’s ultimately going to help me once I reenter. I’d like to go back to school for culinary arts. I really would. Possibly become a chef one day,” Edmonds said.

Warren County Jailer Stephen Harmon said, “It gives the inmates an opportunity to have a plan and an opportunity for employment upon release. We couldn’t be more satisfied with the partnership.”

Aramark East region vice president Bob Barr said, “Unfortunately [the men are] incarcerated today, but it doesn’t mean they need to be incarcerated tomorrow, and we’re all about second chances, and this program provides skill sets that will give them a leg up when they get released back into society.”

The graduates the day with cake, punch, a job offer and a sense of gratitude.

“Take the class,” Melton recommended to fellow inmates. “It’ll change you – make you a different person.

McDowell followed saying, “I just wanna share with everybody in the future that takes this program good luck.”

Edmonds agreed thanking Harmon and their instructor for the chance to learn.