(ALBION) – Chain O’ Lakes Correctional Facility and Warden Charles Bowen are pleased to announce the graduation of 20 residents from a nationally recognized welding program.
On Thursday, August 15th, Chain O’ Lakes Correctional Facility joined its partner, Ivy Tech Community College Fort Wayne campus, to celebrate the graduating class of 20 male offenders who have earned their nationally recognized American Welding Society (AWS) certifications.
Warden Bowen addressed the graduates commending their class’ 100% passing rate for the course. “Keep this momentum going and you can achieve great things for you and your family.”
Each student who qualifies for the welding course is placed into a work-release program and has an opportunity to start their career with local employers while remaining incarcerated. The ultimate goal is to maintain continuous employment upon release.
Background
As a part of Gov. Holcomb’s Next Level Agenda, the program trains men at the Chain O’ Lakes Correctional Facility how to weld with the ultimate goal of aligning them with gainful employment in the industry upon release. Welding is an exceptional pathway for released offenders, providing higher pay rates and stable employment upon re-entry. Currently Indiana’s correctional facilities house about 27,000 offenders—and more than 90 percent of them will eventually be released back into Hoosier communities.
