Simpson Co. Detention Center offers college credit program for incarcerated individuals

FRANKLIN, Ky. – What began as an idea more than 10 years ago is now the first educational program for incarcerated individuals of its kind in the commonwealth.

On Wednesday, the Simpson County Detention Center and SKYCTC celebrated the launch of SKYDIVE, a program that allows the incarcerated to begin college courses and work toward a degree.

“I think that’s our job as Kentucky jailers. I think that’s our job as humans to make sure that we help, you know, one another,” said Simpson County jailer Eric Vaughn. “The cost of education is a lot cheaper than the cost of incarceration.”

Kelcie Richart, campus director at SKYCTC, says the program is possible through a partnership SKYCTC has developed with the jail.

The jail already has a program to help the incarcerated earn a GED. However, this new partnership gives them access to career development before being released with the intent to prevent a relapse into criminal behavior.

Inmates are selected for the SKYDIVE program based on assessment test scores. Both the score program and SKYDIVE are paid entirely by inmates from the commissary account.

“We’re taking these students and developing them, giving them, I find out, foundation for success to hopefully, upon release, continue their education or be able to join the workforce with some credentials,” she says. Richart says three students are already enrolled in the program, and that the program is “so proud of them.”

Samantha Mallory, associate director at SKYCTC Educational Opportunity Centers, says starting in fall of 2023, the Pell Grant is going to be available to incarcerated individuals.

Mallory says one goal is to have the Simpson County Detention Center an approved prison education program, which would make it eligible for federal financial aid. She explained the commissary funds will pay for each course until they’re eligible for Pell Grant.

Vaughn says the commissary account is the inmates’ money and includes “zero tax dollars from the state.”

Vaughn says his goal he set 10 years ago was to turn the jail facility into nothing but a program and educational jail for the state, and he said it’s slowly moving toward the end result.