Last modified: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 11:40 AM PDT Learning from jail By Andy Gates — Argus Observer VALE — Jerry Gomez is learning how to be a parent — in jail. Gomez, along with nine other male inmates, are taking classes daily at the Malheur County Jail designed to help them re-enter the community as productive men. They are learning about CPR, parenting, relapse prevention, drug and alcohol abuse, finances and self-esteem. With a 2-month-old baby boy whom he has never met, Gomez, a first- time father, said he is excited to be a positive influence in his son’s life. “I haven’t seen him yet. I turned myself in, to get out in two to three months to see him,” Gomez said. Gomez, 22, a former gang member, who is not a stranger to the criminal justice system, is incarcerated on a weapons charge — unlawful possession of a firearm. Gomez, Nyssa, is slated to get out of jail in December, but after ten weeks of classes, he could be released in November, the program’s administrator, Malheur County Sheriff’s Office Senior Deputy Ty Birdsong, said. “Although most of us got into programs for the days off our sentence that it brings ... It offers so much more than that. We’ve noticed a difference in how we handle our emotions in the midst of difficult circumstances,” Gomez said. The group of 10 inmate students are obtaining certificates for food handling first aid and CPR. Some are working for their GEDs, and they are learning about parenting and dealing with drug and alcohol problems. “They (programs) are all geared toward helping us get on our feet when we get out, so that we can make better choices in our lives,” Gomez said. Gomez said he appreciates efforts from jail staff, counselors and teachers from The Family Place, Lifeways, and Treasure Valley Community College, who work together to administer the programs. “We now see that something beautiful can come from something so ugly,” Gomez said. The program was funded last year through $112,958 from the Corrections Assessment Fund, which is money streamlined from courts to Malheur County. Malheur County then divides the funding up with a certain portion earmarked for the Malheur County Jail. Funding was allocated to cover the costs of personnel services and materials, Malheur County Sheriff Andy Bentz said. “It is a tremendous value. As far as hard cash, it is a tremendous return on the investment,” Bentz said. The sheriff, however, was initially a hard sell on jail programming — but he has seen results, he said. “I wasn’t all cranked up for these things (programs,) but now I’m a big advocate,” Bentz said. The inmate educational program, known as “Boundaries” was instituted in 2001 at the jail, one of its originators, Malheur County Jail Commander Rachel Reyna, said. But, not just any inmate can participate. The programs are voluntary and participation is a privilege, Reyna said. For inmates to be eligible, they must follow jail rules, not be assaultive or disruptive and they have to be sentenced or near sentencing, with enough time to complete the program, Reyna said. The jail also provides segregated programs to female inmates, Birdsong said. Gomez and 10 other male inmates at the Malheur County Jail, have earned their opportunities to learn. Gomez and his inmate peers span different races, ages and backgrounds — from gang members, to first time offenders, to Mexican nationals, to a veteran — and they have all bonded, he said. “Despite the vast differences in our cultural backgrounds, and the way we were brought up, we are able to joke around with each other and have fun together. We share what we have with those that go without. And many of us plan to maintain our relationships when we’re out,” Gomez said. The inmate program participants can get emotional in class — some cry — when they accept responsibility for their actions and accept their life situations, Birdsong said. “Everybody gets down on personal stuff once the lights go out,” Gomez said. Gomez broke free of his gang membership after a rough beating by his fellow gang members, he said. “I was jumped out (of the gang) ... It happened a couple months before I came to jail,” Gomez said. Gomez does not want other people to make the mistakes he made, he said. “When we get out, we hope to bring a positive impact to our community. We want to share with others the valuable lessons we’ve learned from our mistakes. Hopefully, misguided youth and even their parents will seek this kind of help before they end up in jail,” Gomez said. He tells others not to end up like him, he said. “Do you want to be like me and talk to your mom behind glass on the phone?” Gomez said. Contact visits are not permitted at the jail, Reyna said. Sometimes, though, inmates who go through the program, come back to jail, Birdsong said. “I’ll talk to them and find out why,” Birdsong said. Sometimes jail time is handed down because of probation violations — like being in a bar, but not necessarily drinking, he said. “Another bump in the road ... Pick your friends wisely,” Birdsong has told graduates who come back to jail. Other graduates do well, stay clean — physically and legally — and they say they are thankful for the programs, Reyna said. Now, Gomez is focused on his future life as a free man — being a good father, getting married and getting a job in construction, he said. “It’s not a fun place to be (jail), but while I’m here I want to make the best of it,” he said.