There are locked gates and guards everywhere but women at the Utah Corrections Facility are looking ahead to a future outside those walls. The Utah Department of Corrections (UDC) and Davis Technical College (Davis Tech) are partnering to offer three new certification programs specifically for incarcerated women. A celebration to launch the programs was held at the correctional facility last week.

“We’re celebrating the beginning of a wonderful program,” said Executive Director, Utah Department of Corrections, Brian Redd. “Day to day we’ll make these programs happen. I’m inspired by your efforts in these circumstances. We’re on your side.”

The three additional programs include: Automation and Robotics, Web and Graphic Design and Information Technology.

Redd shared an experience he had when he was a police officer. “I was walking the streets in the Rio Grande area,” he said. “Most would not look at troopers but one man talked to us so we asked him about his life. He did mixed martial arts in the Olympics but he had gotten injured and became addicted. He was homeless because of addiction.”

He’d spent three years down there, said Redd. “He’d lost his family and his job. We told him ‘if you want help, we'll give you help.’”

Redd said they’d see him down there occasionally. “One day he came to us and said ‘I’m done. I want help. I need treatment.’ We helped him get a job at McDonald’s. Last year we were walking down the street and saw ‘Bill.’ We embraced in a hug. He said he was back with his 2-year-old daughter and his family. He had a job in construction paying $20 an hour.”

It was an inspiring story, he said. “We all need others. We appreciate the support of DTC to work to get individuals jobs and get out. Recidivism decreases if when people get out they have jobs.”

“Rep. (Melissa) Ballard’s commitment to education is unwavering,” said DTC President Darin Brush. “She has worked to add these three programs. There’s special value in quality education to help folks succeed. From the graduates we’ve had in the last three years, 80% have not returned to incarceration.”

Ballard worked in the legislature to get more education for women in prison. “There are pieces of legislation that we did for you,” she said. “We passed laws that those incarcerated should get education as soon as possible. You as women get the same educational opportunity as men do now.”

Coretta Scott King said women are the soul of the nation, said Ballard. “You can change generations and your family by who you are. Hope can make a difference not just in your life but those around you.”

Jessica Luna is in the Automation and Robotics program. “My son is a train engineer,” she said. “He encouraged me to come here and then I can get a job with his company when I come home. I used to do clerical work before I came to prison. My only experience was with basic computers. Now I’ll be leaving with many, many skills and knowledge.”

“My father passed away in November,” said Miranda Jones who is in the same program. “His passion was old classic cars and I would help him. The classic cars don’t have any computers but I’m learning how to write code that can run electronics, HVAC, mechanics, everything.”

Jones is also enrolled in Salt Lake Community College in criminal law. “These skills can take me anywhere,” she said. “My passion is helping other people. Knowledge is power.”

It’s called corrections not punishment, said Ballard. “This gives people the opportunity to correct their habits from a previous lifestyle and create new lives. This is a big deal for women. It gives them the opportunity for a living wage to support a family. It’s vastly different for women – it’s a game changer.”