This week, ten Lake County Jail inmates volunteered to participate in a new jail pilot-program.  The ‘IN2WORK’ Program is a three-phase instructional course which gives the successful participants a culinary certification.  The first phase focuses on food service safety and skills training.  Phase two teaches overall food service management.  And the final phase provides instruction on ServSafe techniques, an examination, and a culinary certification.  The ten inmates are set to graduate today with their culinary certification.

Participants in the course receive hands-on vocational training which puts the inmates at an advantage to secure employment upon their release from jail.  Inmates are instructed by culinary experts from Aramark.  Jail programing administrators are working toward making this pilot-program a permanent jail-program.

Sheriff John Idleburg said, “We as a society need to consider the bigger picture when it comes to jail inmates.  I want to provide inmates with as many tools as possible to be successful upon their reentry into the community.  The only way we can make strides in reducing recidivism is if we change the way we do business inside of correctional facilities.  We are making it a priority, putting more focus on providing necessary tools and resources for Lake County Jail inmates to successfully contribute to society upon their release from our facility.”