On July 10, 2024, 10 inmates at the Scott County jail graduated from one of the first OSHA-10 Jail Pilot Program in the nation. This OSHA-10 program is the result of a partnership between Ivy Tech Sellersburg, River Valley Resources, the Carpenters’ Union, and the Scott County Sheriff’s Department. Upon release from the jail, graduates from this pilot program will not only have an OSHA-10 certification, but many will leave the jail with a construction and industrial maintenance job lined up and ready for them on the other side.
One of the unique aspects of this OSHA-10 training program is that since the students were in a highly secure environment, regular maintenance and construction tools were not allowed to enter the jails. Instead of letting this restriction become a limitation, Ivy Tech Sellersburg decided to bring the equipment to the inmates via virtual reality headsets.
“We saw the virtual reality headsets at a state conference, and they were offering the idea of teaching industrial maintenance to high school students,” notes Matthew Cupp, Workforce Development Consultant at Ivy Tech Sellersburg. “We got the idea of ‘what if we could do this for individuals who are in jail and maybe have not gotten the opportunity? What if we could create a new workforce pipeline for manufacturers who need workers?’”
This pilot program gives an opportunity to the inmates to earn an OSHA-10 certification at no cost to them or their future employers. Their certification will allow the inmates to enter into any type of construction and industrial maintenance job, which will both benefit the Indiana workforce and allow the inmates to work for a livable wage immediately upon release.
Every year, there are about 22,000 Hoosiers who are incarcerated. The majority of them come out. Many don’t have an education or have never worked a real job. What we’re trying to do is reduce recidivism and break the cycle of poverty, violence, and crime.
– Konnie McCollum, Chief Operating Officer of River Valley Resources
Moving forward, the hope for this program is that it will continue in the Southern Indiana region, but it will also be presented across the state and replicated in as many county jails in Indiana as possible. Leadership is also exploring other program types to bring into the jails that will appeal to a variety of interests amongst the inmates. Research is currently underway on which programs would be most beneficial to the Indiana workforce.
“We meet students where they are,” Dr. Travis Haire, Chancellor of Ivy Tech Sellersburg, notes. “And if that happens to be in jail, we know that we could be the lifeline for those individuals. It’s a chance for a new beginning.”
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.
