New Leash on Life participants paroled and finding work, Reentry administrator reports

Reentry administrator Kelly Shaw told the board that New Leash on Life cohort 4 largely succeeded: 11 of 12 enrolled participants completed the in-jail program and were paroled immediately, and several graduates have transitioned into employment or internships.

Shaw said the six-month New Leash on Life program pairs incarcerated people with shelter dogs and includes job readiness and animal-care workshops; cohort 4 completed 17 career-readiness workshops, 16 life-skills workshops and 10 dog-training workshops. Of the 11 graduates, four are employed full time, two internships remain in progress, one is in full-time education and one remains in treatment; two participants had interrupted outcomes (one lost contact, one internship was terminated). Shaw said cohort 5 is scheduled to start August 17, a two-week delay from the original schedule, and that the delay will not affect the current contract.

Shaw also reviewed the facility's electronic learning activity and law-library access under Title 37, noting CyberWorks and Adevo platform metrics and that the law library serves as a notary and a certified GED testing center for incarcerated people.