"Character in Custody" airs November 21 at 8:30 pm on SCETV. For more information visit www.scetv.org.

Well done! WELL DONE! I've been a volunteer educator at Ridgeland Correctional Institute since 2016. I taught several classes in the CHU (the one side of one dorm that is a Character Housing Unit at RCI). Then I asked the warden to let me go into the non-character dorms. The need for programming in those dorms is quite evident. Whenever I walk the yard, inmates beg me to come to their dorm to teach a class. Now that I am in the non-CHU, the inmates in CHU are begging me to come back. It is the most rewarding experience a volunteer educator can have. Just this week, one inmate said he would give up anything to attend a class. EVEN CANTEEN? I asked. "Yes! There's nothing more important than learning how to better myself." That's actually saying a lot because my class meets during the time they get to go to the canteen once a week. I told that man, "You're in! See ya next week!" He has the right attitude, which is the most important factor. After that, is bringing in the materials and supplies. After that, I'm all about replicating myself by training inmates to teach as well as recruiting others to volunteer. But let me say, Ridgeland ain't Allendale....yet! My classroom doesn't have adequate lighting or working electrical outlets, tables, or chairs. We have to scramble to assemble a classroom every Wednesday morning. I teach using PowerPoint because I embed motivational videos with every lesson. Fortunately, the participants found multiple extension cords so we could hook up the TV someone donated to my cause. I consider Allendale to be a fine example of what's possible. IT'S SO ENCOURAGING! To see how rough it was at the beginning, to see where this institution is today means I won't give up...even when we have to assemble a makeshift classroom. Read about my classes here: www.gofundme.com/prisonvolunteer campaign

Some don’t deserve a second chance.

This is a program yard that's why he got that parole if he was anywhere else he would be declined

How are you showing inmates in orange jumpsuits when we wear tans?

Dumb honk tonk lmao. Should have kept him there.