Education behind bars: Juvenile offenders receive opportunity to continue their schooling

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — On Wednesday, News 4, we told you what happens to Charleston County students who bring a gun on campus. They're expelled for 365 days and in some cases, arrested and sent to the Charleston County Juvenile Detention Center.

But just because they're in a cell doesn't mean their education is on hold. We went to the center and found out how juvenile offenders can take control of their lives and get the tools they need to succeed outside of jail.

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For the few dozen juveniles inside the Charleston County Juvenile Detention Center, they're here because they did something wrong. Aesperita Pinckney, the Center's Community Resource Coordinator, is here to make sure they stay on track when it comes to school.

"We have kids who are here for murder," Pinckney said. "We have kids who are here for robbery. We have some kids that come in just because they violated their order."

"They have to go to school," she continued. "We have some kids who are currently working on their GED. They get up early in the morning. They have their breakfast they go to school. They're in their classrooms from eight until 11:30 for lunchtime. They come back around 12:30 until three."

Sometimes, Pinckney says it can take some convincing.

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"A lot of juveniles do say they're giving up,'" she says. "So now we try to dig into the why, what, what makes them think this way and how we can help them want more and better for themselves."

Others are ready to prove themselves.

"I find a lot of them really want to please their parents," Pinckney said. "They want to say they made a mistake but are now trying to get on the right track. Speaking with one of my gentlemen, he would be the first one to graduate high school in his family. He was so excited about it, and he really wanted that to really resonate with his family. He wanted to show them he could do this."

For those who aren't a fan of a traditional school, the center is now offering a barber class.

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"They will complete an eight-week program," Pinckney said. "At the end of the eight weeks, they'll have a graduation. They will be presented with a new set of clippers we will put in their property. Once they're released from here, they have the option to attend the barbering school outside of the facility."

Others are finding inspiration through the center's library and book club.

"One kid told me this morning about writing a book," Pickney said. "I said I better be a character. And we just laugh."

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The juveniles are also learning about themselves through yoga and therapy dog programs. Pinckney is trying to find even more avenues to show them there's more help than they realize.

"These kids make mistakes," she said. "I want them to understand they're human beings. "I want them to understand a lot of times, even though they made a mistake, we try to pour in and figure out the why. A lot of times, we can give directions or we can say don't do it again. But if we're not giving them the necessary tools in order not to do it again, it just repeats itself."

Juvenile Detention Center personnel are looking for an artist to work with them in creating art classes at the facility.