The Allegany County Detention Center is embracing digital tools to support inmate self-improvement and prepare them for successful reentry into society. By providing access to educational tablets and a variety of digital resources, the facility aims to foster personal growth, reduce recidivism, and enhance community safety.
Tablets for Transformation: Pathway to Achieve™
The Allegany County Detention Center has expanded its use of educational tablets, ensuring every incarcerated individual has access to the Pathway to Achieve™ program. This digital platform, offered through Pay Tel Communications’ inteleTABLET™ devices, provides detainees with access to hundreds of self-paced courses focused on personal development, education, and life skills. The program is available at no cost to Allegany County taxpayers.
Program Accessibility and Funding
Tablets have been in use at the facility for several years, but as of March 2025, enough devices have been issued to provide 100% coverage for the incarcerated population. The program is funded through Pay Tel’s communication services. Incarcerated individuals can choose to purchase communication features such as messaging or email. They can also earn communication time by completing courses, which incentivizes personal growth and educational achievement.
Impact and Key Statistics
The Pathway to Achieve™ program has demonstrated significant impact:
- Course Completion: In one year, 29,312 courses were completed.
- Engagement: Learners spent a total of 3,679 hours engaged in educational content.
- Credits Earned: Detainees earned 321,039 credits.
- Course Load: The average learner completed 65 courses, an increase from 51 the previous year.
- Assessment Enrollment: 82% of those who completed a risk/need assessment enrolled in courses.
- Identified Needs: 63% of participants identified a need for addiction recovery support, and 52% reported a desire to improve their mental health.
Course Offerings
The program offers a wide array of courses, including:
- GED preparation
- Parenting skills
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Anger management
- Career planning
- Addiction recovery
Over 4,000 addiction-related courses were completed in the past year, demonstrating the program’s alignment with the self-identified needs of participants.
Cost Savings and Educational Value
A third-party analysis estimates that providing comparable services outside of this platform would cost $1,731.09 per detainee annually. With over 450 participants in 2024 alone, the program has delivered an estimated $782,000+ in educational value over four years, entirely free of charge to Allegany County.
Self-Improvement Programs and Skill Development
The Allegany County Detention Center offers a variety of programs to assist inmates with basic life skills and prepare them for reentry into the community. These programs focus on areas such as reading, math, writing, social studies, and science. The ultimate goal is to equip inmates with the academic tools needed to continue their education and/or enter the workforce upon release.
GED Program
The Allegany County Adult Education program at ACDC provides inmates with an opportunity to improve their academic skills. Inmates are encouraged to pursue their education further and are given information regarding GED programs in the community.
Life Skills
In addition to general education, the detention center offers other programs to assist inmates with basic life skills for their reentry into the community.
Vocational Training
Some correctional programs focus on helping individuals learn job skills and prepare for employment. This helps ensure that when individuals are released, they can find gainful employment and contribute to their communities. The AIU Workforce Track offers a Computer Workforce Literacy program and a Pre-Apprenticeship program. The Computer Workforce Literacy program helps individuals learn computer skills, including resume writing, basic keyboarding, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The Pre-Apprenticeship program is designed to prepare incarcerated individuals for acceptance into a building trade union.
Addressing Addiction and Mental Health
Recognizing the importance of addressing addiction and mental health issues, the Allegany County Detention Center provides comprehensive support services.
Medicated Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Program
The facility provides a grant-funded MOUD program to inmates who qualify. The goal of the MOUD program is to replace self-administered addiction with a safe, physician-monitored program while addressing underlying issues through mental health and peer counseling. The program averages 42 inmates who receive daily doses of medication for opioid addiction.
Jail Substance Abuse Program (JSAP)
In collaboration with the Allegany County Health Department, JSAP provides an intensive substance abuse recovery program. Inmates within the program meet individually and in a group setting to receive education, counseling, treatment, and referrals. The SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment) model is used upon entry to the facility to screen for potential substance abuse. Inmates are screened on numerous occasions, given intervention, and referred to treatment while incarcerated and upon release.
Mental Health Counseling
Mental health counseling is provided to inmates on a regular schedule. The Pathway to Achieve program also offers courses in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and anger management.
Technology and Communication
The Allegany County Detention Center utilizes technology to enhance communication and provide access to information for inmates.
Inmate Tablets
Inmates have access to tablets for self-guided education, a free up-to-date legal library, messaging systems to maintain contact with friends and family, and additional phone call stations. The tablets are free to use, and inmates can earn money credits from the tablet’s educational platform to use for phone calls or to purchase other items such as movies. There are over 30,000 books available on these tablets.
Guardian RFID Technology
The Allegany County Detention Center utilizes Guardian RFID technology to manage, monitor, and track in-custody inmates in real-time. Inmates are required to wear non-implantable devices at all times.
Virtual Visitation
There is no in-person visitation at the facility. All visitation is virtual and administered through paytel.com. Visits scheduled using the video visit equipment at the facility are free, while visits held on personal equipment bear a fee.
Inmate Funds and Commissary
Inmates may receive funds deposited into their accounts through an online system at jailatm.com. There is also a Jail ATM kiosk in the vestibule of the facility that will accept deposits. Inmates use these funds for commissary purchases, medical fees, telephone use, and to purchase entertainment through the inmate tablets.
Reentry Programs and Community Support
The Allegany County Detention Center recognizes the importance of reentry programs in supporting a successful transition back into the community. These programs provide resources, support, and opportunities to help individuals rebuild their lives with dignity.
Reentry Pre-release Program
The Reentry Pre-release Program is based upon the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections Pre-release Preparation Program and is designed to reduce recidivism.
Community Partnerships
The Allegany County Detention Center partners with organizations such as Allegany College of Maryland to develop programming for incarcerated parents. Allegany College of Maryland Adult Basic Education works with the detention center to develop programming to assist incarcerated parents.
Focus on Family
While not a traditional 2Gen/whole family approach program, the programs offered during incarceration focus on the role the parent plays in the education of their child(ren).
Direct Supervision Philosophy
The Allegany County Detention Center operates upon the principles that the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of all inmates is a primary concern and that a variety of programs are provided to aid interested inmates with their reintegration process. The facility utilizes a direct supervision philosophy, where officers work in direct contact with the inmates on a day-to-day basis, interacting, listening, and communicating with them.
A Commitment to Rehabilitation
The Allegany County Detention Center’s commitment to utilizing digital tools and comprehensive programs demonstrates a proactive approach to inmate self-improvement and successful reentry. By providing access to education, life skills training, addiction support, and mental health services, the facility aims to empower inmates to become productive members of society. This commitment is reflected in the words of Captain Dan Lasher: “This isn’t just about technology—it’s about transformation”.
