Inmates, Family Celebrate Graduation from Rehabilitation Program

It was an emotional day for inmates and their families at the Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center (GHRC) Thursday, March 6th, as Glen Helen 1 (GH1) and Glen Helen 2 (GH2) graduated from the Inmate Fire Crew Program (IFCP). GH1 and GH2 were the first two groups to graduate from IFCP, a new rehabilitation program ran in the Educational Complex of the GHREC that inmates and their families say, was long overdue. The program was organized through a joint effort of the San Bernardino County Sheriffs, San Bernardino Fire Department, and the inmate participants, to train the prisoners to respond to fire emergencies in the County of San Bernardino. GH1 has already responded to various wildfires, floods and a commercial fires, where they helped with cleanup operations to allow full-time firefighters to be ready for the next call. The program was described as "a big step" to many, as they face the challenges of reintegrating, as prisoners, back into society once their sentence is served. The new skills and training also guarantees the inmate participants a job after they are released. "GH1 and GH2, your reputation precedes you!" Fire Chief Mark Hartwig of the San Bernardino County Fire Department sharing some stories of the successes of the programs. Families and friends cheered and shed tears of joy as graduates from GH1 and GH2 were welcomed onto the stage area. Sheriffs John McMahon of the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department shared how proud and honored he was to be standing in the presence of GH1 and GH2. "They changed their own lives, and are changing the lives of others, they are changing the community they live in and the lives of the inmates who will follow in their steps." "They learn many more skills than fire fighting. They are out there sand bagging, performing the clean up operations, chipping; they learn first aid and receive confined spaces training," Chief Hartwig explained. The graduates were then recognized one by one. Graduate Juan Garcia's son, Victor Garcia shared, "If there were more programs like this one, less people would be in jails, [more people would be] focusing on doing good in the community." Graduate Juan Garcia shared the hope, excitement and pride he felt after graduating. "We will actually have jobs waiting for us when we come out. That is important for our rehabilitation. This program is a landmark, because it is effective. Many of the rehabilitation programs in the facility do not work, so people relapse and and fall back into the system. What we needed was this opportunity to show everyone, we are not useless. Look at us now, we are fire ready!" Sheriff Cochran with the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department explained, "This program is different in that we are breaking down barriers, between the sheriffs, the inmates and the firefighters. We work as a team. It is not, 'Us against Them' anymore." He added that the department is working on more programs that allow for more family contact, which he says is an essential part of rehabilitation. Anthony Webb commented on the teamwork between the fire men, the sheriffs, and the inmates, "We get along better in the rehabilitation center than in the facility. We have to have each other's back, I need to trust that if I were to fall down, the guy next to me is going to pick me up." "This is the type of program that inmates need. This program is allowing them to showcase their abilities, it's not a typical program where people are locked up, to do nothing, almost like a death sentence," Dalene Robinson, who came to support Graduate Michael Brewster, shared. Casey Brewster, added "It's important that inmates have a chance to do amazing things, and to have mentors." She looked at her children and their dad playing catch, "When my children see their dad in this light, and not behind bars, it affects them in a way you can't imagine. This is rehabilitation in its finest hour."