Roanoke’s strategy aimed at reducing repeat offenders shows promising results

Roanoke, Virginia – In Roanoke, incarcerated individuals are being provided with opportunities for growth and skill development in an initiative that city law enforcement hopes to expand. This comes as part of the Sheriff’s Office’s effort to enhance the educational prospects available to inmates, while also facilitating their reintegration into society post-release.

The R.I.G.N.I.T.E. program, launched by the Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office in September, has already shown promising early results. This initiative allows inmates to gain training and certifications, designed to equip them with skills useful upon returning to the community.

The program has been met with positive reception among the jail’s residents, as Captain Angela Traynham, Assistant Chief Support Services Officer, noted. “They appreciate that we’re taking the time to really give them opportunities in here; instead of just sitting and waiting for the release date, they’re getting some of the education and tools needed to be successful,” she stated.

Participants in the program can opt for a variety of training opportunities, which range from GED completion and substance abuse prevention training to culinary certifications and transition programs for reintegration into the community. The ultimate goal of R.I.G.N.I.T.E. is to reduce the rate of recidivism and limit subsequent criminal activity in Roanoke.

“In the past, society often took the ‘lock them up and throw away the key’ approach,” said Captain Traynham. “We want to help them visualize a different future outside these walls. Hopefully, this will result in a lower rate of recidivism and fewer interactions with the criminal justice system.”

The statistics from the past eight months reflect the program’s effectiveness. Each of the 525 inmates has participated in one of the 11 programs currently on offer. Furthermore, the program’s community partners, who volunteer their time, are currently delivering training to 129 residents.

Looking ahead, the Sheriff’s Office is planning to introduce additional training programs, including a commercial driver’s license certification. In a noteworthy upcoming partnership, Roanoke College will collaborate with the department on the ‘Inside Out’ prison exchange program. This will allow inmates to earn college credits, further facilitating their reintegration efforts in the fall semester.