Go to jail, get free college
So, you didn’t have to vote for Bernie to get a free education. You just have to get arrested. Starting in September, Santa Clara County is paving the way to higher education for men and women at Elmwood Correctional Facility and Main Jail in a new partnership with San Jose State University Research Foundation that offers credit-bearing, general education college courses to incarcerated individuals.
This week, the Board of Supervisors approved a two-year, $325,000 contract for classes that will count toward community college and university coursework when incarcerated individuals transition back into the community.
“The County is committed to providing individuals the re-entry tools needed to make a successful transition back into the community,” said Supervisor Cindy Chavez. “Our re-entry program has cut recidivism in half.”
Instructors will teach two classes per 12-week period for up to 60 individuals per class, and include both instruction and tutoring. All courses are worth three units. Classes will be offered in Justice Studies, Kinesiology, Philosophy, Child and Adolescent Development, Communication, Counselor Education, and English.
Top gun
Gilroy police may have a new way to help get bad folks into jail/college. The department is buying a new 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe outfitted with everything a law enforcement commander needs. The car will come from Folsom Chevrolet, which gave the lowest bid at $35,485, beating Peninsula Chevrolet in Seaside’s bid of $40,192.96. Six dealerships, including the one in Gilroy, were asked to bid, but four declined, according to a report given to the City Council on Monday. The vehicle will go to the department’s captain of professional standards division.
Meanwhile, police are looking for a bounce house stole from the 7300 block of Eigleberry Street last month. The victim reviewed her video surveillance and saw two men enter her side yard around 2 a.m. and remove the rolled-up bounce house which weighed around 150 pounds. The front of the bounce house has, “Jolly Jumps 694-1994” written on the front. The suspects left the inflation device at the scene.
