The "Academy of Hope" Delivering on its Promise
In 2018 a mass riot at the Lee Correctional Facility in Bishopville, South Carolina, claimed seven lives and shook the South Carolina community to its core.?It was evident something had to change within the prison to avoid future catastrophes. Something did. A year after the riot, hope came to Lee Correctional.?
The Academy of Hope (AOH) brings together inmates from South Carolina’s Department of Corrections institutions across the state and houses them together in one unit at Lee Correctional Facility. Inmates are offered a chance at changing their lives inside the prison walls by learning leadership skills, violence reduction practices and taking daily classes.
The mission of AOH is to reduce institutional violence in prisons while creating a culture of learning and rehabilitation.?Capitalizing on best practices from around the world, inmates undergo training programs, learn new skills, and in some cases prepare for release.?The program is staffed by experienced personnel who are trained in de-escalation, personal development, and leadership, helping to foster and transform each participant into a contributing citizen in society.?
Classes take place each morning and afternoon, with reading time in between.?Courses include a wide variety of subjects including leadership, law, creative writing, critical thinking, and values, among many others.?
Inmates enter as a “Level 1 Student” for an initial ninety days and participate in orientation activities to get acclimated to the program, while maintaining a probationary status to ensure they are a good fit for the program.?Once they prove compatibility for the program, a participant is removed from probation and is considered an “Apprentice” for the second ninety-day phase.?
?During the third ninety-day period, an inmate has demonstrated skills both inside and outside of the classroom and is now considered a “Mentor and Student Teacher.”?During the final ninety-day period, participants continue to serve as mentors and eventually graduate to the “Teacher Mentor” status, which provides them the opportunity to lead, facilitate and provide instruction time within the classroom.??
The inmates also receive visits at times from motivational speakers. A few years ago, Stedman Graham (Oprah Winfrey’s long-time partner) came to speak with them. Graham had worked as a prison guard many years ago in a Chicago prison. As Graham said, “Everybody has potential. It’s important we try to help everyone reach it.”?
When inmates graduate from the Academy of Hope, they return to the general population of the prison and act as “peacemakers.” They visit the cellblocks and help fellow inmates resolve differences. It is more likely a prisoner will take advice from another prisoner as opposed to a corrections officer.?
The Academy of Hope can monitor progress and success, because it is powered by LifeTraq. LifeTraq is built upon the principle that nobody should be without hope. LifeTraq specializes in program compliance design and tracking to ensure accountability and transparency within?the correctional system.
LifeTraq’s gamified, behavioral technology tracks a participant’s entire journey from entry into the program and beyond, helping to incentivize personal program achievements using rewards, peer support, professional support, and real time outcome surveys.
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This approach with the Academy of Hope is seeing positive impact. The Director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections, Bryan Stirling, can assert a low recidivism rate and a decreased prison population. Just last year, Director Stirling was honored by the Correctional Leaders Association for turning the agency around since the riot.
In 2020, an inmate who had been trained at the Academy of Hope, stepped in and saved the life of a correctional officer who was being stabbed by an inmate. The Director of Communications for the South Carolina Department of Corrections, Chrysti Shain, said, “That wouldn’t have happened in a million years before the Academy.”
The inmates are invested in the program and in their futures. When they have gotten skills they need to live a more fulfilling life within the walls of the prison, their futures are brighter. As one inmate said, “This program is sharpening my tools I will need when I get out. It’s going to help me live out my destiny and I know it isn’t in here.”
This unique program, gives each participant a reason for hope, an enhanced sense of purpose, and the opportunity to become a vibrant and contributing member of society.?Advocating for and replicating creative approaches to correctional programs will offer a greater chance for successful outcomes in the future.
Traci Fant serves as the Director of the Academy of Hope and recently said, “I see every day how people's lives are transformed when they are given opportunities to grow. None of this would be possible without the involvement of LifeTraq. "
When dedicated corrections system officials think creatively and strive for excellence and collaborate with cutting edge, innovative technology, results are guaranteed. LifeTraq continuously aims to increase positive outcomes.?Positive outcomes sustain hope and hope is alive and well in South Carolina.
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For additional information about Academy of Hope (AOH) visit https://academyofhopeglobal.com/
For additional information about and to request a demo of LifeTraq visit https://lifetraq.com/
Co-Founder at GESI Hospitality
2 年Such important work you are doing Erik Kerr by providing skills that in turn provide hope to these individuals and communities ??
Vice President at Veraxx Engineering Corporation a By Light Company
2 年Great work Erik. We need more of this across the nation!