BUTLER — Attorney General Dave Sunday, along with Butler County government and community leaders, announced the launch of the IGNITE program, with Butler becoming the third county in the Commonwealth to implement the recidivism-reducing initiative.
IGNITE — Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education — is designed to minimize re-offending from paroled individuals by providing education, skill sets, and employment opportunities to participants while they are incarcerated.
Butler County will soon offer incarcerated individuals a battery of IGNITE programming. Wayne and Fayette counties previously launched the program.
“There is a time and place for punishment and accountability, but we have to embrace rehabilitation and redemption, and offer incarcerated individuals the tools to succeed when they are released from prison,” Attorney General Sunday said. “I commend our partners in Butler County for recognizing that a person with stable employment feels empowered in their community and is less likely to commit a crime.”
IGNITE is a National Sheriffs Association initiative, with the program being funded by the association.
“The IGNITE program is a step in the right direction for re-entry programs in corrections facilities,” Butler County Sheriff Michael Slupe said. “Years ago, it was do the crime, do the time, but our job has evolved into helping those who want help by giving them a chance to make sure they come out better than they went in. Giving them the chance to learn, grow, and prepare for life after jail helps them, helps our communities, and makes everyone safer.”
“IGNITE will take our programming to a whole new level by providing opportunities that I never thought would be possible inside our walls to those motivated to change,” Butler County Prison Warden Beau Sneddon said. “This is our biggest swing at impacting recidivism by providing the individuals who want the help with the tools to change.”
Butler County Prison is seeking community partners, volunteers, and sponsors to expand educational and workforce training offerings. Those interested in supporting this transformative effort are encouraged to contact Matt Clayton 724-431-5390.
# # #