Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office joins national initiative called I.G.N.I.T.E.
Christopher R. Swanson, a sheriff in Michigan, started I.G.N.I.T.E., a program which stands for Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education.
The ultimate goal of I.G.N.I.T.E. is to “eliminate generational incarceration through education by restoring value, hope and purpose to our inmate population,” Swanson said.
Since its inception in 2020, I.G.N.I.T.E. has grown into a nationwide initiative spearheaded by the National Sheriff’s Association and put into practice in 36 states.
Sheriff Michael G. Wilson announced the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office is joining the program, becoming the sixth jurisdiction in Ohio to implement the program.
“At the end of the day, our responsibility goes beyond custody,” Sheriff Wilson said. “If individuals walk out of our facility more capable, more confident and better prepared to contribute, then we’ve done something that truly makes Trumbull County stronger.”
I.G.N.I.T.E. is designed to reduce recidivism after release and improve outcomes by providing incarcerated individuals with structured access to education, vocational training, and personal development opportunities.
I.G.N.I.T.E. launches May 20 at 11 a.m. at the Trumbull County Jail in Warren.
With the launch of I.G.N.I.T.E. in Trumbull County, Ohio now leads the nation in the number of I.G.N.I.T.E. sites.
“This is about more than what happens inside the jails,” Sheriff Wilson said. “It’s about what happens after. When people leave here with real skills, a sense of purpose, and a plan for their future, it strengthens not only their lives, but the safety and stability of our entire community.”
Researchers from Harvard, Brown and the University of Michigan have found that just one month in the I.G.N.I.T.E. program reduced the likelihood of jail misconduct by 25% among participants.
It also reduced the three-month recidivism rate by 24% and reduced the 12-month societal cost of crime by $7,285 per individual.
On average, I.G.N.I.T.E. participants gained a full grade level in math and reading proficiency.
