On July 25, 2019, Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton met with Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg, his staff, and a group of Lake County Jail Inmates to speak about the positive changes in programming being implemented at the Lake County Jail.

During the roundtable discussion, Lt Governor Stratton had an opportunity to hear from the Lake County Sheriff’s Inmate Program Manager Mary Turley, Re-Entry Specialist Angelica Barbosa-Gomez, and several inmates.  The conversation consisted of topics such as:

-Addiction and the need to reduce barriers to treatment 

-Addiction counseling and programs which continue treatment upon being released from custody

-Stable housing/housing support upon being released from custody

-Methods to seek adequate and stable employment upon being released from custody

-Long-term vocational skills program to increase marketable employment skillsets for inmates

Since taking Office in December of 2018, Sheriff Idleburg implemented the following additional academic and vocational educational programs in the Lake County Jail:

•    General Education Diploma (GED)

•    English as a Second Language

•    Basic Computer Skills

•    Microsoft Office Instruction

•    Nail Technology (credits toward state licensing)

•    Culinary Art Theory (certificate program)

•    Spanish for English Speakers

•    Re-Think Your Thinking (addresses criminal & addictive thinking/behavior)

•    Personal Development (classes and workshops)

•    Narcotics Anonymous for Women (previously only offered to male inmates)

•    Read to Me Story Book Project (incarcerated parents are video recorded reading a book, the book and video recording is then sent to the inmate’s child)

•    Yoga (based on the Prison Yoga Project)

The above programs are in addition to other vocational and academic programs already offered.  The new programs are designed to increase the number of skills provided to inmates to assist in their reentry into the community, upon their release from custody.  The primary goal is to reduce recidivism. 

Sheriff John Idleburg said, “I don’t want the Lake County Jail to be a revolving door for inmates, thus, one of my substantial goals as your Sheriff is to noticeably reduce recidivism in our community.  The only way we can accomplish this is by working together as a community, providing rehabilitative, educational, and vocational opportunities in the jail setting.  Most of the inmates being housed in the Lake County Jail will reenter the community in a matter of weeks or months.  Providing inmates with the right opportunities will set them on a track for success.  I am very happy Lt Governor Juliana Stratton took time out of her busy schedule to meet with us and see first-hand how the expansion of these programs is essential for success.”