Transforming Jails Through Education, Second Chances

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project

Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/03/24 (Unpublished)

Sheriff Chris Swanson of Genesee County, Michigan, leads IGNITE (Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education), a transformative jail program focused on rehabilitation through education, job training, and wraparound support. Since launching in 2020, IGNITE has significantly reduced recidivism, jail violence, and costs, earning validation from Harvard, Brown, and Michigan. With partnerships from labour unions and support from figures like Jelly Roll and Snoop Dogg, IGNITE equips inmates for successful reentry into society. The program is expanding nationally and globally, with Swanson set to keynote at Oxford in 2025. IGNITE proves that cultural change in corrections is possible—and practical.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Today, we are here with Sheriff Chris Swanson, a dedicated law enforcement leader serving Genesee County, Michigan.

With a deep commitment to public safety and criminal justice reform, Sheriff Swanson has led transformative change in the local correctional system through innovative initiatives—most notably, the IGNITE program (Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education). His leadership has contributed to a measurable reduction in recidivism, improved inmate behaviour, and a historic shift in how Genesee County approaches incarceration. Swanson’s forward-thinking strategies have earned recognition from community leaders and national organizations.

Through tireless efforts, he continues promoting rehabilitation and building trust between law enforcement and the community. His visionary leadership inspires meaningful change daily. Thank you so much for joining me today.

Chris Swanson: I truly appreciate it. It’s a pleasure to know your background, Scott. 

Jacobsen: So, what inspired the development of the IGNITE program?

Swanson: IGNITE is more than a program—a cultural shift. Think back to your school years. Some had great educational experiences; others didn’t. But there’s a large group of people—especially among our incarcerated population—who had no educational experience at all. Those individuals often come from cycles of poverty, addiction, trauma, and brokenness. And that’s who we see filling jails across North America.

I was a struggling student myself. But I made it through community college, then earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. In 1998, while finishing my master’s thesis, I explored the question: What lowers crime? The answer wasn’t more police or harsher sentences—it was hope, education, and purpose through employment.

Throughout my 30-year career, I’ve seen the same families cycling in and out of jail. When I became sheriff in 2019, I knew Michigan wasn’t immune to this cycle. If we were going to break it, we needed to change how we did business. So, we replaced a culture of incarceration with a culture of education. We didn’t push cases—we created opportunities.

When someone comes to jail, they’re going to learn, work toward a diploma, trade certification, or college credit, and prepare for a job. The goal is that they never return. When that happens, we all win: fewer victims, reduced costs for taxpayers, and real rehabilitation.

Jacobsen: And building a culture like this takes more than just policy. It takes people—staff members, educators, volunteers, community leaders, and even celebrities. So, how did Snoop Dogg get involved?

Swanson: Great question. And you’re spot on—culture change starts at the top and moves outward. Not everyone’s heart will get there at the same speed, but leadership has to lead.

When we transformed our jail into a place of opportunity, it made the facility safer for inmates and corrections officers, law enforcement on the street, and administrative staff. It also reduces legal liability and fills workforce gaps in the community. There’s a ripple effect when you educate people and give them the tools not to return to jail.

As for Snoop Dogg—he reached out because he saw what we were doing with IGNITE and wanted to help. He’s passionate about giving people second chances and breaking the cycle, just like we are. He’s since become a vocal supporter of the program, helping us expand our message nationwide.

When that happened in 2020, we launched it. I started noticing all the data—that crime had gone down, that violence in the jail was down by 90%, and that our liability lawsuits were significantly reduced. But we fought an uphill battle because if there’s one profession I know that fights change, it’s law enforcement. And if there’s one profession I know that wants to change, it’s law enforcement. So you’re working both ends of the spectrum at the same time.

However, when we saw the success and tracked the data from day one, it caught the eye of many influencers. In the United States, 80 million people have been incarcerated for at least one day, according to The Nation Outside, a group representing returning citizens. That’s 80 million people. One of those is Snoop Dogg.

Another is Jelly Roll. They’re the ones who contacted me. They saw what we’re doing because we share our story—just like we’re doing on your show. When you have people who have the same heart but a position of influence, they want to be a part of it. That’s how I connected with Shaggy, Jelly Roll, and Snoop Dogg.

Jacobsen: Who has been the most involved of those three?

Swanson: Hands down, Jelly Roll. This guy has burst onto the country music–pop–and rap scene over the last three years like a firestorm. He’s currently in Canada finishing a tour and genuinely loves people. His real name is Jason DeFord, and under the name Jelly Roll, he’s become an advocate for second chances. He spent multiple years incarcerated and has felony convictions for drugs and other crimes—but he turned his life around.

Everyone listening to the show has been given that opportunity—maybe not through the criminal justice system, but we’ve all had second chances. I had a mutual friend in the country music industry who connected us. I sent him a video, and he sent me one back. When I told him what we were doing, it caught his attention. Since then, he’s visited our community twice in the last year and a half. You can find those visits online. He became an inspiration not only to the inmates but a validator for the staff.

You asked earlier about culture change. Sometimes, the validators must come from outside the leadership circle—and that’s exactly what Jelly Roll has done and continues to do.

Jacobsen: What are the core components of the educational programming offered through IGNITE?

Swanson: IGNITE is simple. It’s the mindset shift from incarceration to education. We go to school five days a week.

The entire jail population has the opportunity—whether you need to learn your colours and numbers, want to earn a GED, a diploma, a degree, improve financial literacy, or explore one of thousands of other courses. That five-day-a-week educational structure is based on meritocracy. When you succeed in a program or graduate, we celebrate that accomplishment.

Many of the people in jails across North America have never been told, “Great job. I’m proud of you.” They’ve grown up in broken homes. Nine out of ten people incarcerated in North America are addicted or co-addicted. Six out of ten of them struggle with a mental illness—often undiagnosed. And half of them can’t read a menu.

So when we build opportunities to learn—and we bring in instructors who aren’t paid but come from industries, communities, labour unions, online platforms, and even virtual reality systems—they are proud of what they’re doing. And when we talk about that population, and they don’t come back, it matters because nine out of ten men and women are returning to our communities.

Only ten percent of incarcerated individuals in the United States go to prison. The remaining ninety percent cycle through jails. So when people do not come back to jail, it means there’s less crime, fewer victims, and reduced relapse into addiction. It all comes down to one principle: value. Give people value. Could you give them a job? They don’t come back to jail.

Jacobsen: What about the issue of recidivism? That’s a major challenge in the United States and many other places. A significant portion—arguably the majority—of individuals in jail are there because they’ve returned after reoffending. Often, it is the same crime committed shortly after release. How does the IGNITE program address that issue?

Swanson: I’ll tell you this: “recidivism” has been a buzzword for my thirty-two years in law enforcement. No matter the area or political affiliation, everyone tries to figure out the same thing: How do we reduce crime? After all the strategies we’ve tried, I’ve found that one approach works, and that’s IGNITE. From the day we launched it, we began tracking the data. That launch wasn’t marked by a new building or a big budget—it was a ribbon-cutting on September 8, 2020, driven by a culture change.

I knew that if we tracked the data consistently. Eventually, someone outside the system would validate it. That moment came when Dr. Alsan from Harvard University took an interest. We entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Harvard, Brown University, and the University of Michigan, and those institutions studied IGNITE’s outcomes for 18 months. In February 2024, they published peer-reviewed results.

I could tell you what Genesee County feels, what our community believes, or what families say—but instead, let me share the hard, validated data from the peer-reviewed economic and finance research done by those institutions:

1. One month of IGNITE reduces weekly jail misconduct by 49 percent.
2. On average, IGNITE participants gained one full grade level in math and reading proficiency.
3. IGNITE improved community perceptions of law enforcement and fostered positive relationships.
4. One month of IGNITE reduces the 12-month social cost of crime by $5,600 per person.

And ultimately:

5. One month of IGNITE reduces three-month recidivism by 19% and one-year recidivism by 20%, as validated by Harvard University.

So yes—this is the answer. It’s not the only answer, but the one we’ve been looking for. That’s why IGNITE is expanding across the country—and even internationally.

Jacobsen: Is there a need to tailor the program’s educational components to the specific needs of incarcerated individuals?

Swanson: Great question. No jail is the same. IGNITE has a national standard, but it originated in Genesee County and took root in places like Collin County, Texas—just north of Dallas–Fort Worth—and as far north as Fargo, North Dakota, just south of Canada. Each region has its own needs based on its population. You’ll find the same thing in Northern New York or Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Sheriffs and leaders working with incarcerated populations know their people. IGNITE is a philosophy—it’s a culture change. But education is universal. There are no borders when it comes to teaching. You meet people where they are and give them the incentive to raise their own ceiling.

For example, in Fargo, North Dakota, the emphasis is on agriculture, business, and finance. We’re training individuals to become ironworkers and line operators in Michigan because of our strong labour and manufacturing sectors. In Texas, they even have an equestrian program. Sheriff Skinner in Collin County serves over 1.2 million people, and his population has very different needs.

So, we tailor IGNITE based on where individuals will go when they leave jail and what skills the community needs. That’s how the program is adapted effectively.

Jacobsen: What are your plans for expansion into more facilities or new regions?

Swanson: We’re taking this global. I’ve had the incredible privilege of seeing our story and message resonate far beyond Michigan. In February 2024, I was contacted by the World Literacy Foundation, which is hosting a global summit at Oxford University. I’ve been selected as the keynote speaker for April 2025 to present IGNITE to an international audience.

That summit represents 82 countries that will be there in person. And when you look at the Harvard study—an expansive, empirical study—they included a statement, Scott, that humbled me when I read it. They knew the program worked, but now they had validated it with peer-reviewed data. They said: If this mentality of education—this philosophy, this cultural shift—can work in the Genesee County Jail in Flint, Michigan, post–water crisis, then it can work anywhere.You’ve done stories on environmental crises in broken communities. When you talk about poverty, crime, and systemic trauma—if it can work in a place like that, then it can work anywhere in the world. I’m telling you, remember what IGNITE stands for: Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education. It is the model that’s going to change the game.

Jacobsen: You mentioned cost savings per person. What about the overall cost efficiency of the program?

Swanson: That’s the great thing—this is not a costly program. When I launched IGNITE in September 2020, we didn’t get a single dollar in funding for the first two and a half years. All we did was change how we used our time. Instead of dead time, we brought in volunteers and teachers from the community.

I have not paid a single dime for anyone to teach in the more than 300,000 contact hours delivered so far inside our jail. We structured the day so that someone participated in one hour of class before lunch. One hour before dinner, they’d earn more time out of their cell, time for quiet study, and incentives—more TV, radio, and movie time—things society uses to reinforce positive behaviour. When they do their part, we do ours.

So no—we didn’t need more money. Too often, when people look for answers, they first ask for funding. I did the opposite. I proved the concept first. We got the results, and then I asked for money because now I had data and real stories to support it.

Getting a program up and running is one thing, but sustaining it is where funding becomes relevant. That’s where partnerships come in. We now work with the National Sheriffs’ Association, which represents 3,084 sheriffs across the U.S., and they have corporate sponsors who help sheriff’s offices bring IGNITE into their communities. So it’s not costing counties anything. Bottom line: It’s a solution with no up-front cost, which makes it even more attractive—anywhere in the world.

Jacobsen: Are any innovative tools—like virtual reality—being integrated into the curriculum?

Swanson: Absolutely. We implemented virtual reality (VR) during the first six months of IGNITE. There are skills we cannot teach hands-on in jail—for obvious safety reasons. We can’t teach people how to build a doorframe, weld a seam, or wire an outlet with actual tools in a secure facility. We still have a violent jail population, and Genesee County is large, with a significant number of high-risk inmates.

So, I immediately partnered with VR software companies. Our first three VR stations taught over 50 professional life skills, including plumbing, electrical, welding, and more. These gave inmates what I call professional awareness—the chance to see and experience trades they might pursue. Then, we linked up with labour unions to create real opportunities on the outside.

For example, we talked offline about a visit to New York and the big city skylines. Ironworkers made those towering buildings. Through IGNITE, we now have a nationwide partnership with the Ironworkers of the United States. When a participant graduates with a welding certification, they’re given—upon release—a helmet, gloves, apron, and direct entry into an apprenticeship with the Ironworkers Union, wherever they live. Do you want to talk about changing a family tree? That’s it right there.

That’s the kind of incentive we’re talking about. The VR stations opened the door to possibilities—literally and figuratively. And once individuals are released from incarceration, they walk into the real world with real skills. That’s just one of many ways IGNITE prepares them.

Jacobsen: How long does it usually take to change the jail culture and how people view incarcerated people?

Swanson: I’m still fighting an uphill battle with many. Even within my facility, some people have a built-in default mindset about how things should be. But that’s not what leaders rest on. Genesee County Jail has been open since 1836. Other counties around the country have been established for hundreds of years. It’s going to take time to get everyone on board.

However, leadership plows through the field. And when the once skeptical people begin to see results, that becomes the most powerful answer to the question, “Will it work?” I’ve read you the validated outcomes from the Harvard study, but beyond that, it’s about consistent momentum.

When another county adopts IGNITE—even if it’s led by a sheriff of a different political party, a different race, a different gender—and they’re still pushing the same culture shift, that’s proof this is not a one-time experiment. This is genuine, measurable, sustainable culture change.

To your second point, there will always be resistance. If we’ve been doing things the same way since the 1830s, it’s up to us as leaders to show people that something better exists. IGNITE is that something better. That’s why you see so many people adopting it—because we don’t just have passion, we have data. It makes sense.

There’s a line I often use when I talk to the media because I know, on the other hand, people who may question educating inmates while they’re incarcerated. But after speaking with families my entire career and dealing with both the street and the jail sides, I always say this: It might not seem like a big deal—unless it’s your kid.

That personalizes it. Because every one of us has either been through something ourselves or loves someone who’s made a bad decision, who’s struggled with addiction, who’s fallen short. But we’ve also seen redemption. We’ve seen second chances turn into lifelong transformations. And when someone embraces that opportunity, it’s a testimony that cannot be denied.

So yes—it’s easy to doubt something you’ve never experienced. But when it touches your family, that’s when people become believers. And I can tell you, Scott, we’ve seen that happen repeatedly. That’s why this movement has gained so much momentum—people from all walks of life are beginning to see the value of our actions.

Jacobsen: And when prisoners get out and participate in the program, what do they say to you?

Swanson: It’s powerful. First, it’s important to note that nine out of ten jail inmates are male, and a smaller percentage are female. But IGNITE serves both genders. The needs of incarcerated women are very different from those of men, and we try to address those differences. One of our goals is to help restore the family unit while someone is still incarcerated.

As I said, nine out of ten individuals return to their communities. So, we have a wraparound program that picks up where IGNITE leaves off. And let me emphasize—people don’t ask to come to jail. What many do not realize is that about 90% of people in U.S. jails are pre-adjudicated. That means they haven’t been convicted; they’re still going through the court process. A very small percentage are serving sentences.

Some are in jail for two, three, or even five years, awaiting court outcomes. Imagine your whole life being paused—your job, family, opportunities—because of a bad decision or just the people you were around. Then, years later, you’re suddenly released—maybe with time served, on a tether, or because your case was dismissed or you were found not guilty. And now you’re expected to rebuild your life from scratch. It’s nearly impossible without help.

We provide wraparound services: identification, education through IGNITE, job placement, and housing support. That’s how people succeed. We’ve had former inmates walk out of Genesee County Jail and into full-time employment. I have countless testimonials—parents coming to the sheriff’s office, former inmates returning for graduation in civilian clothes because they want to be recognized. That’s why we hold commencement ceremonies.

And I’m not exaggerating—I have never seen anything like it. They are so thankful. I’d love to send you a link to a story about one of our early graduates. This man came back from out of state just to say thank you. He was in one of the first IGNITE graduations, and he’s now working as a mason with the Bricklayers Union, making $35 to $40 an hour, with full benefits and retirement. He returned to the jail, walked in with his head held high, and told me, “This changed my life.”

Jacobsen: Chris, thank you for the opportunity and your time today. I appreciate you taking the time.

Swanson: Thank you for your platform, and I appreciate your dedication to journalism.

Jacobsen: You’re welcome. 

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