Tonya Papanikolas Reporting
The state prison has developed a new program called "Reach" to help inmates develop specialized work skills.
It takes a lot of work to build a home, but inmates at the state prison are learning the skills to do it.
Roger Mast, Prison Inmate: "We do all the framing and the drywall, finish work, carpet, tile."
Blaze Wild, Prison Inmate: I'm texturing the ceiling."
The prison has partnered with Salt Lake Community College to offer inmates a building trades course. At the end of two years, they get their associate's degree.
Blaze Wild, Prison Inmate: "It's really important to me so I can be a productive member for myself, in society, for my family, so I can do something better than I was."
After receiving the degree, inmates can then join a prison program called REACH to gain apprenticeship hours.
Jerry Pope, Deputy Warden over Programming: "When they leave, they have certifications in either framing or finished cabinetry. And those are jobs that are fairly in demand here in Utah."
Offenders say in the short-term they're learning hard work.
Cory Mitchell, Prison Inmate: "You feel like you're accomplishing something. You go back tired. It makes going back to the block a lot easier."
And in the long-term, they'll have the expertise to find jobs when they're paroled.
Cory Mitchell: "I can go out there and go to work for myself completely."
Prison officials say that cuts down on recidivism.
Jerry Pope, Deputy Warden: "Any time you give someone the ability to think more critically and earn a better wage, chances are they're not gonna come back to prison."
This year, inmates will build 10 low-income homes for the Utah Housing Corporation. As the program expands, they hope to build about 50 a year.
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