Flagler County, FL - On Monday, the Flagler County Sheriff's Office (FCSO) announced a new program designed to help inmates become successful once they are released from the Flagler County Detention Facility.
The new program, STRIDE (Skills, Transitional Support, Respect, Integrity, Direction, and Employment) is aimed at "stopping the revolving door of the criminal justice system" and offers inmates the opportunity to become productive members of the community, according to FCSO.
STRIDE was created by FCSO's Inmate Services Director Becky Quintieri at the request of Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly. The initiative began in 2017. Quintieri unveiled the STRIDE program to the community on Monday and explained the variety of programs now offered to Flagler County Detention Facility inmates.
During the STRIDE orientation meetings, FCSO personnel meet with the inmates to discuss the inmates' goals and barriers to their goals. STRIDE, in partnership with The Sheltering Tree shelter in Flagler County, helps the inmates apply for social security cards and obtain copies of birth certificates so the inmates have an easier time finding jobs when they are released.
Other services the STRIDE program provides are G.E.D. courses, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and Christian-based anger management classes. Weekly non-denominational ministry services are also offered through the program.
The Flagler County Jail also works with the Family Life Center to offer female inmates monthly domestic violence counseling. An 8-week domestic violence prevention program, called "Choices and Changes," is being added to STRIDE on March 19. Participants in the STRIDE program are also able to take parenting classes while in the jail.
"I can't say enough about the efforts that have been made by Director Quintieri and our jail personnel, along with our committed community partners who have worked with us to make my vision of STRIDE possible," said Staly. "Crime is not an uncommon problem for any community; however, what is uncommon is having a community whose leaders and volunteers come together and try to tackle crime to make real change, not only in the in the lives of law-abiding citizens by locking up criminals, but by trying to reform them while they are serving out their sentences."
Photo courtesy FCSO.
Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2018.
