St. Landry Parish inmates earn degrees

The St. Landry Parish Jail booked 4,753 inmates in 2015.
In a news release, Sheriff Bobby Guidroz said, “Each of those inmates was treated with respect and their constitutional rights were observed. Further, each inmate in our jail is considered a fallen human being who deserves a chance at rehabilitation and a chance to overcome the challenges that caused them to fall in the first place. Our jail offers each inmate programs to defeat alcohol, drug and gambling addiction, and each inmate is offered a chance to participate in our HISET program, wherein they can earn a high school degree while they are behind bars.”
Guidroz added, “I am proud to announce the graduation of three more St. Landry inmates through our HISET program.” The HISET (High School Equivalency Test) is an educational program offered to male and female offenders housed at the St. Landry Parish Jail who have not received a high school diploma. The program helps to improve lives of inmates through high school equivalency credentials that prepare them for employment and promote changes. The new HISET test which replaced the original GED test last year is more in line with common core standards. Each student is required to participate 10 hours a week for at least three months according to their level of education. These hours are mandatory to become eligible in achieving a HISET diploma.
Lillian Rideaux, the HISET instructor of the sheriff’s office stated, “There have been 15 offenders who have received their diploma through the program and 30 inmates currently enrolled in the program.”
Guidroz added, “Inmate Daniel Guillotte who is not pictured in the photograph, was accepted in the work release program which is used as another rehabilitation step prior to being released. Earning his high school diploma coupled with the work release program, improves his chances of not returning to prison and becoming a productive member in society.”