When people get hauled off to jail, they don't always get a lot of support getting back on their feet when they leave.

The Hernando County Sheriff's Office, however, hopes a new program they've put in place will help change that.

  • "Project Restart" started with $500,000 federal grant
  • Program offers computer, interview skills, support
  • Program run by Career Source

For Patricia Gioia, jail, unfortunately, is a familiar place. After completing a prior sentence, she was unable to make the changes necessary to avoid coming back.

However, she said the Sheriff’s Office’s new "Project Restart" program could be the beginning of a new life.

"It gives me a lot of hope," Gioia said. "It gives me incentive to go back out. It's very hard when you are thrown back out onto the street, no place to live and every intention you have can be the greatest, but without a leg to stand on or funding or rehabilitation, I don't stand a chance."

Currently, 10 women and 10 men are attending classes at the Hernando County Detention Center, learning computer and interview skills they can use outside of jail. The Sheriff's Office received a $500,000 federal grant to get the program started, one of 20 agencies in the country to receive that grant.

The goal of the program is to give inmates a better chance of succeeding once they are released.

"None of us want to see them come back," Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis said. "We want them to be successful and we're really hoping that this program way exceeds expectations and we hope there is no recidivism."

"Project Restart" provides courses in computer and interview skills, as well as connections with support services on the outside. (Kim Leoffler, staff)

Through the program, run by Career Source, the inmates are connected with potential employers and support services like groups that help with housing.

While many employers are hesitant to bring a former inmate on board, Nienhuis hopes this program will give employers the reassurance they need.

"We're going to assure them that we've done everything we can to give those ladies and gentlemen the tools they need so they won't have to make those mistakes again. We can't guarantee anything, but it does give them a leg up,” he explained.  

In total, 100 inmates will participate in the program. Career Source representatives said 50 of them will also complete a manufacturing course.

All of the inmates are voluntarily participating in the program. Nienhuis said factors like their charges and the length of their sentence do play in to their ability to join the courses.