This week, 169 inmates at the Dayton Correctional Institution (DCI) received degrees and certificates from Sinclair Community College in a ceremony recognizing their educational achievements. Many of the women emphasized how education is helping them reshape their futures and create better lives post-incarceration.
Through the Ohio Central School System, incarcerated individuals can pursue high school diplomas, GEDs, and post-secondary degrees. Sinclair College, along with institutions like Kent State University and Ohio University, offers over 40 degree and certificate programs within Ohio’s prison system. Currently, Sinclair serves more than 2,600 incarcerated students across 16 Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) facilities.
Danielle Carr, a Middletown native who earned her associate degree in business, shared her inspiring journey at the event. After dropping out of high school, she worked hard to finish her diploma before pursuing her degree. Despite personal hardships, including the loss of her mother and grandmother during her studies, Carr persevered with the support of her teachers. Now, she plans to continue her education and hopes to become a teacher herself. “Teachers changed my life, so I want to give back,” Carr said.
Carr, incarcerated for drug-related offenses since 2020, credits education for boosting her confidence and providing a path to a better future.
January Newport, a former inmate and now a coordinator with Montgomery County’s Office of Reentry, also spoke at the ceremony. Newport, who faced her own challenges during incarceration, praised education as a tool of empowerment. Having earned her degrees after release, she now supports others navigating reentry into society and reducing recidivism.
“Education is more than just knowledge,” Newport said, encouraging the graduates to continue setting goals and using their education to transform their lives.
