Jail's New Welding Classes Start Wednesday

A new program starts Wednesday at the McCracken County Jail that will hopefully create new job opportunities for inmates.

Jailer David Knight has held discussions with community leaders and employers for several months, leading to the first series of twenty weekly classes that will teach welding to eight inmates. Each class will last three hours, and will be taught in a secure building by Brandon Wilber, an instructor at the Paducah Technology Center and WKCTC.

Knight said the class will create opportunities for those who complete the course, and he hopes it helps lower recidivism.

"And hopefully give them skills to where they don't come back to jail. To give them some options where they actually have some skills to do something productive when they get out," Knight said.
 
Through arrangements that have been made, taxpayers won't pay for the program. Any needed materials will be donated, and any other expenses will be funded by the proceeds of the jail's commissary fund, where inmates purchase incidentals while serving their sentences. 

Knight said the eight men are, "very excited," to start the classes, so they can earn their American Welding Society certification. Local employers are already interested in hiring those who finish the course, since there is a local need for welders. 

He said, "We've talked to National Maintenance, James Marine, Western Rivers. There's several that are interested in employing them, particularly in the river industries."

Knight had worked at the jail for six years when he was elected to his first term as jailer in November. He immediately began discussions about vocational training and educational programs for inmates as ways to bring about positive change.