Page A28 • May 16, 2013 • Inland Empire Community Newspapers

InRoads program helps create job opportunities for inmates outside prison wallsBy Yazmin Alvarez

Inmates at Glen Helen Reha-bilitation Center are beingtaught a variety of job skills

to help them adjust to life outsideprison walls through the InmateRehabilitation Through Occupa-tional and Academic Development(InRoads) program.Established 15 years ago, the pro-

gram offers inmates more than 25classes aimed at helping them at-tain employment and ease transi-tion upon release through jobtraining as they await release.On of InRoads’ most known pro-

grams is its bakery at Glen Helen,where instructors teach inmateshow to create breads, pastries andmeals daily to help feed thecounty’s inmate population.As their skills grow, inmates are

able to expand their creativity andare allowed to use pipe decorationsand other materials to make prod-ucts that even “The Cake Boss”Buddy Valastro would be proud of.“We see that in the culinary pro-

gram, they are able to see an endproduct, and that develops a senseof pride in them for the work theycreated,” said Miriam Gomez, In-Roads program coordinator. “It’spretty amazing to see the turn-around in these guys. You see big,tough-looking men with tattoos -who some have only worked inconstruction all their life - makingdainty decorations on fruit androses and cakes. It’s somethingnew to them, and we see a differ-ence in them.”The success rate of the program

has been notable, Gomez said.Many former inmates have been

direct - sometimes almost immedi-ately - at area bakeries upon theirreleased. Over the last year, 49 for-mer inmates have earned gainfulemployment..“They haven’t come back to us.

And we don’t want them to. That’sthe biggest benefit in all this,” shesaid.But until the are released, certain

security measures are in place tokeep inmates under control and notwalking away with blades or addi-tional objects that could be turnedinto a weapon.However, bakers seem more in-

terested in behaving than causingproblems, Gomez said. “The in-mates here love to be in the bakery.It keeps them busy and out of(trouble).”While the bakery’s products are

not for sale to the public, inmates’products are made available to thecommunity outside prison walls,

through community events spear-headed by Supervisor Josie Gon-zales, county officials said.Some of the most requested items

are tuxedo strawberries andcheesecakes.“Their foods are pretty tasty. I al-

most don’t want to walk by thebakery sometimes because I don’twant to be tempted,” said Gonza-les, who serves the county’s fifthdistrict.With Gonzales’ support on board,

the program is expanding.In April, the County Board of Su-

pervisors passed an item providingadditional job skills to county in-mates. And as a result, the InRoadsprogram gained an additional in-structor for the Inmate CulinaryProgram, said the county.An average of 350 to 400 inmates

from the county’s four facilities -Glen Helen, west Valley, Adelantoand Central detention centers -participate in the program, with

about 50 inmates baking at theGlen Helen facility along. Andclose to 40 are taking part in theculinary program, Gomez said.Coordinators try to enroll in-

mates in both the vocational andintervention programs, so “theyhave a tool kit to help them transi-tion into the community.”Inmates who successfully com-

plete the program receive a certifi-cate in competency in RestaurantOccupations from the SanBernardino County Superintendentof Schools, along with a food han-dler’s certificate from the County’sDepartment of Public Health.

“The InRoads program has liter-ally transformed lives. We’ve seenexamples of individuals goingthrough this program, being giventhe opportunity to learn a new skilland capitalize on it by obtaining acareer once they have been re-leased,” said Gonzales. “Havingthat kind of positive opportunitygives them the courage to beat theodds and defeat recidivism. As aresult, our county is safer andmoving in the direction we want togo.”

PHOTO COURTESY INROADS, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT

Inmates involved in the InRoads program are offered opportu-nites to cater county events.

PHOTO COURTESY INROADS, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT

An inmate fills freshly baked cupcakes as part of the InRoadsprogram.

PHOTO COURTESY INROADS, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT

InRoads program inmates at Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center.

Hermosa GArdens Cemetery An-

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Remembrance of Veterans