On Tuesday, September 7, 2021, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) in partnership with Flagler Technical College (FTC) proudly recognized two graduates of FCSO’s “Homeward Bound” program at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility. The program teaches practical job skills through training courses to help prepare inmates to become successful and productive residents upon release from the facility.
The latest course offered in the Homeward Bound program trained inmates to print and apply custom designed vinyl graphics onto vehicles. The two inmates who graduated from the program are Shawn Crandall and Christopher Rodriguez. In fact, many of the marked patrol cars the community sees were completed by inmates in this program.
Shawn Crandall is 32-years-old and originally from North Carolina. He’s been at the inmate facility since July 17, 2021, and has completed the 120-hour program. Upon his release, he had a job waiting for him because of this training program. Mr. Crandall has a position waiting for him at Step Up Design in St. Cloud, Florida. Step Up Design learned about the Homeward Bound program through a technician that repairs FCSO graphics equipment and through the media when the FCSO launched the program.
Christopher Rodriguez is 42-years-old and is from New York and has a passion for design and art. He joined the Homeward Bound program after disclosing his extensive background with cars and graphics to detention deputies. He also completed the 120-hour FTC program. He will continue to work in the shop until the completion of his sentence.
“This program was created with the hope that inmates can learn some practical skills while serving time at the Green Roof Inn,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Hopefully these programs will provide inmates the skills they need to find a job after they are released. Our goal is to help inmates leave our facility more prepared for success than when they entered. Upon graduation of this program and others, we may have just set them on the right path forward to becoming a productive member of the community.”
The goal of the Homeward Bound program is to focus on offering practical job training and the “soft skills” needed that will allow inmates to return to the community ready to compete for gainful employment in a meaningful career instead of becoming repeat offenders. Homeward Bound also builds on the S.T.R.I.D.E program Sheriff Staly implemented in the jail in 2017.
About FTC:
Flagler Technical College is your local resource for career and community education. We are the adult division of the Flagler County School District and accredited through the Council on Occupational Education (COE). Our Career and Technical Education programs focus on high-demand trades to meet the business and industry needs in Flagler and surrounding counties. Students learn practical specialized skills from industry professionals in a personalized and hands-on learning environment. For more information visit our website at https://flaglertech.edu
Media Release: Flagler County Sheriff’s Office
