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Reentry Task Force festival set for Sept. 18; jail GED classes underway with about 18 participants
Summary
A member of the Lackawanna County Reentry Task Force announced a Sept. 18 reentry festival to raise funds for rent assistance for people exiting prison; Outreach staff said an in-jail GED program has started with about 18 participants but no one has tested yet.
Members of the public told the Lackawanna County Prison Board on Aug. 20 about an upcoming reentry festival and offered an update on the jail’s GED program.
Mr. McHugh, a member of the Lackawanna County Reentry Task Force, said the task force will hold its annual festival on Sept. 18 at the courthouse’s Linden Street side. He said about 18 vendors have committed and that most vendor sponsors have donated; the festival raises funds used to help people leaving prison with housing costs. “We supply up to a thousand dollars per inmate for first month’s rent and security deposit,” McHugh said.
McHugh said Judge Brace and Commissioner Schirmacher have agreed to be speakers at the Sept. 18 event, which he said will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Separately, Senator Barros asked the board for an update on a GED program approved in March. Nikki, director of court and prison employment at Outreach, told the board the GED classes in the jail have started and she estimated about 18 participants are actively attending. She said no one has taken the GED test yet because students are not yet ready, but Outreach will provide testing when participants are prepared and will assist people released from custody by connecting them to classes at Outreach’s Ninth Avenue location.
The board placed personnel matters into executive session later in the meeting and returned to the public forum before adjourning.
