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CHANGE THAT. >> THERE’S NO REASON FOR THESE FOLKS TO SIT BACK HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY AND DO NOTHING. THEY SIT BACK HERE AND EAT P TARTS AND DRINK KOOL-AID, AND GET NOTHING OUT OF THEIR EXPERIENCE AT JAIL. JAIL IS SUPPOSED TO BE A LEARNING EXPERIENC AND A REFORMATORY. LAUREN: AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT SCOTT COUNTY SHERIFF JERRY GOODIN IS WORKING TO DO. BEGINNING LAST WEEK, 11 MEN WENT OFF SITE TO LEARN WELDING DURING AN EIGHT-WEEK CLASS. IN THE BASEMENT OF THE JAIL, MORE INMATES ARE BEING CERTIFIED AS SAFE FOOD HANDLERS, PAVING THE WAY FOR A JOB IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY. AND ON A SUNNY DAY, A MOWING CREW IS LEARNING LANDSCAPING. ALL INMATES ARE LOW-LEVEL OFFENDERS CAREFULLY SELECTED AND CLOSELY GUARDED, AND THE JAILER SAYS THEY’RE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. >> TED MAKES THEM FEEL LIKE THEY ARE USEFUL IN LIFE, AND NOT JUST DISCARDED AND NOT CARED 40 MORE. LAUREN: IT IS BEING DONE AT NO COST TO TAXPAYERS ALL THANKS TO , A GRANT. AND THE SHERIFF SAYS ITS NOT JUST A POSITIVE FOR THE INMATES, BUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY. >> WE ARE CREATING OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR FOLKS THAT ARE IN HERE. WHENEVER THEY GET OUT, THEY WILL BE PROSPEROUS CITIZENS AND BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY INSTEAD OF US DEALING WITH THEM ON A DAILY BASIS AND COSTING TAXPAYERS MONEY. LAUREN: GOODIN SAYS WHAT’S BEING DONE IS A GOOD INVESTMENT, BECAUSE HE’S INVESTING IN PEOPLE. >> WE ARE REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE THAT PEOPLE TOLD US, YOU SHOULDN’T REACH OUT TO THEM. WE ARE DOING WHAT PEOPLE TOLD US WE COULD NOT DO, AND WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM AND GETTING THINGS DONE.

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Several inmates at the Scott County Jail began an eight-week class last week to learn the trade of welding.In the basement of the jail, more inmates are being certified as safe food handlers, paving the way for a job in the food industry. And on a sunny day, a mowing crew is learning landscaping. "There's no reason for these folks to sit back here every single day and do nothing. Jail is supposed to be a learning experience and a reformatory and that's exactly what we're doing," Scott County Sheriff Jerry Goodin told WLKY.All inmates are low-level offenders, carefully selected and closely guarded. The Scott County jailer said they are grateful for the opportunity."You know, it just makes them feel like they're useful in life and not just discarded and not cared for anymore," jailer Douglas Herald said.It's being done at no cost to taxpayers, thanks to a grant, and the sheriff said it's not just a positive for the inmates but the entire county."We're creating opportunity for our folks that, whenever they get out, they will be prosperous citizens and able to contribute to society instead of us having to deal with them on a daily basis and costing tax payers money," Goodin said.While the program is in its early stages, Goodin said it's a good investment because it's investing in people."We're reaching out to people that people told us we shouldn't reach out to. We're doing what people told us we couldn't do and we're working with them and getting things done, getting results," Goodin said.Goodin said he is working with the county's judges and prosecutor, even defense attorneys, to make the program as successful as possible. He also said he is working to create more opportunities for inmates, including learning industrial maintenance.