Sheriff Michael Ashe said the Hampden County Sheriff's Department's re-entry program brings state inmates who will be returning to live in the Springfield area once they are out, and who are within a year of their release dates, to facilities and programs at the Ludlow jail.
Hampden County Sheriff Michael Ashe, pictured outside the Hampden County Jail and House of Correction in Ludlow, recently accepted an award for the jail's program to help inmates return to life outside the prison system.LUDLOW — The Hampden County Jail and House of Correction was recently honored for its work with the state Department of Correction on offender re-entry.
Sheriff Michael J. Ashe Jr. accepted the “Innovations in Corrections” award, presented by Correction Commissioner Luis S. Spencer.
Ashe said the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department’s re-entry program brings state inmates who will be returning to live in the Springfield area once they are out, and who are within a year of their release dates, to facilities and programs here.
The transfer of those inmates here allows them a smoother transition to life on the outside and have housing, jobs and supportive services in place, Ashe said.
“When you think about years ago in corrections, they were just dropped off at the bus station, and they became shadows in the community,” Ashe said. “We want the neighborhoods to be safe and to enhance public safety.”
Ashe said the sherrif’s department has been doing so for seven or eight years, and has further refined the practice during the last three or four years.
“I was reallly honored and humbled by the award and its acknowledgement, as well, of the dedication and commitment of the Hampden County Sherrif Department’s staff who have been trailblazers,” Ashe said.
Ashe said that for him, the recognition acknoledges the increased coordination and cooperation between the state Department of Corrections and county corrections personnel.
“I like to feel that this recognition enhances more of a sense of oneness in bringing the department together,” Ashe said.
“We don’t just want them to be isolated. We don’t want them to be just dropped off and dunped into the community. We want to provide this more professional re-integration process, which is so important to ehance public safety.”
The state Department of Corrections recognized more than 50 employees during its annual “DOC 2011 Beyond Excellence” awards ceremony held on Nov. 4 in Wrentham.