BOONE — A new initiative to reduce recidivism at the Watauga County jail is already receiving positive feedback, with one inmate calling it an “inspiration” and a “blessing” in a handwritten letter to Sheriff Len Hagaman.
The letter was written to Hagaman in spring 2018 after an intern studied inmate recidivism — the cycle of coming in and out of incarceration on multiple occasions. Mollie Mellishrencken started her internship with the sheriff’s office in January 2018 as a social work graduate student at Appalachian State University.
kAm~?6 :?>2E6 HC@E6 E96 =6EE6C[ H:E9 E96 D:8?2EFC6D @7 ab :?>2E6D @? E96 324<] %96 ?2>6 @7 E96 HC:E6C H2D H:E996=5 3J E96 D96C:77’D @77:46 E@ AC@E64E E96 A6CD@?’D AC:G24J]k^Am
kAm%96 HC:E6C D2:5 E92E 5FC:?8 2 AC6G:@FD :?42C46C2E:@? 2E E96 ;2:=[ 96 5:5?’E 92G6 E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C A6CD@?2= 8C@HE9 E92E |6==:D9C6?4<6? 925 @776C65 E9C@F89 96C H@C<]k^Am
kAm“x’> :? E96 AC@46DD @7 D:8?:?8 @? H:E9 2 @?6\J62C WC6D:56?E:2= DF3DE2?46 23FD6X AC@8C2> 2== 3642FD6 @7 E96 :?DA:C2E:@? D96 925 3C@F89E E@ E9:D ;2:=[” E96 =6EE6C DE2E6D] “x7 :E H2D?’E 7@C 96C E2<:?8 E96 E:>6 E@ 96=A >6 2?5 E96 @E96C 8@@5 962CE65 >6? :? E9:D ;2:=[ H6 H@F=5 36 2:>:?8 E@ 5@ >@C6 325 E92? 8@@5 H96? H6 2C6 C6=62D65]”k^Am
kAm%96 =6EE6C C6BF6DE65 3C:?8:?8 @? |6==:D9C6?4<6? E@ 56E6?E:@? DE277 7F== E:>6 E@ 4@?E:?F6 E96 H@C< D96 925 DE2CE65 2D 2? :?E6C? “D@ D96 4@F=5 ?@E @?=J 36 2 3=6DD:?8 E@ >6[ 3FE E@ 2== E96 >6? :? E96 7FEFC6 E92E :D :? ;2:= 96C6]” (:E9 E96 96=A @7 8C2?E 7F?5:?8[ E9:D C6BF6DE 3642>6 2 C62=:EJ]k^Am
kAmy6??:76C vC66?6[ 962=E9 5:C64E@C 2E pAAw62=E9r2C6[ D2:5 E96 962=E9 56A2CE>6?E A2CE?6C65 H:E9 E96 D96C:77’D @77:46 E@ @3E2:? 2 8C2?E E@ 7F?5 |6==:D9C6?4<6?’D A@D:E:@? 2D E96 4@CC64E:@?D EC62E>6?E DA64:2=:DE] %96 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 ~A:2E6 p4E:@? !=2? 8C2?E[ 7@C S`d[___[ H2D 2H2C565 :? yF?6 7@C E96 56E6?E:@? 46?E6C A@D:E:@? 2D H6== 2D @E96C AC@8C2>D DF49 2D A@DE @G6C5@D6 C6DA@?D6 2?5 2 DJC:?86 6I492?86 AC@8C2>]k^Am
kAm|6==:D9C6?4<6? C6DF>65 96C H@C< 2E E96 ;2:= :? pF8FDE] %9C@F89 E9:D A@D:E:@?[ |6==:D9C6?4<6? :D 9:C65 E9C@F89 pAAw62=E9r2C6 E@ :?4C62D6 EC62E>6?E 2?5 C64@G6CJ DFAA@CE 7@C E9@D6 :?G@=G65 :? E96 ;FDE:46 DJDE6>]k^Am
kAm“$96 D6CG6D 2D E96 >:DD:?8 =:?< 7@C E96 A6@A=6 H9@ @E96CH:D6 H@F=5 72== E9C@F89 E96 4C24<D 2?5 C6EFC? E@ E96 D2>6 6?G:C@?>6?E[ 2?5 F=E:>2E6=J 4@>6 324< E@ 56E6?E:@?[” w282>2? D2:5]k^Am
kAmx? E9:D C@=6[ |6==:D9C6?4<6? 96=AD :?>2E6D @3E2:? C6D@FC46D[ DF49 2D DF3DE2?46 23FD6 EC62E>6?E[ H9:=6 ?2G:82E:?8 E9C@F89 9FC5=6D =:<6 A6?5:?8 4@FCE 42D6D[ AC@32E:@? @C 724:=:E:6D H9@ H@?’E 2446AE :?>2E6D] $96 42? 2=D@ 96=A :?>2E6D :? @3E2:?:?8 7@@5 G@F496CD[ 6>A=@J>6?E 2AA=:42E:@?D 2?5 9@FD:?8 C6D@FC46D]k^Am
kAm|6==:D9C6?4<6? DE2CE65 2 =:76 D<:==D AC@8C2> :? E96 ;2:= 5FC:?8 96C :?E6C?D9:A E@ 96=A 8:G6 :?>2E6D D<:==D E@ 4@A6 H:E9 EC2?D:E:@?:?8 324< :?E@ E96 H@C=5] |6==:D9C6?4<6? D2:5 D96 9@A6D E96 AC@8C2> — 8:G6? E96 ?2>6 “C64@G6CJ @? E96 :?D:56” — H:== 8C@H E@ H96C6 :?>2E6D 42? 4@>A=6E6 E96 AC@8C2> 2?5 C646:G6 2 46CE:7:42E6]k^Am
kAmp== @7 E9:D H@C< DE2CE65 27E6C w282>2? 2?5 r2AE] z6==J #65>@? 2AAC@24965 |6==:D9C6?4<6? 2E E96 368:??:?8 @7 96C :?E6C?D9:A H:E9 E96 4@?46C? @7 C64FCC:?8 :?>2E6D[ H9@ H6C6 “@7E6? H:E9 ?@ 5:C64E:@? 2?5 =:EE=6 @C ?@ 9@A6[” w282>2? D2:5]k^Am
kAm|6==:D9C6?4<6? DA6?E E96 D6>6DE6C :?E6CG:6H:?8 d_ 49C@?:4 @C 923:EF2= @776?56CD H9@ H6C6 2CC6DE65 :? (2E2F82 r@F?EJ @? E9C66 @C >@C6 @442D:@?D] $96 H@F=5 :?E6CG:6H 6249 :?5:G:5F2= 7@C C@F89=J 2? 9@FC E@ “F?56CDE2?5 E96:C 3:886DE 32CC:6CD 2?5 492==6?86D” @? H92E H2D <66A:?8 E96> 7C@> 36:?8 DF446DD7F=[ D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%9C@F89 96C C6D62C49[ |6==:D9C6?4<6? 7@F?5 E96 =2C86DE 4@>>@?2=:E:6D 2>@?8 E96 :?>2E6D H6C6 DF3DE2?46 FD6[ A@@C >6?E2= 962=E9[ F?DE23=6 9@FD:?8 2?5 EC2F>2E:4 6G6?ED 7C@> 49:=59@@5]k^Am
kAm“pD =2H 6?7@C46>6?E[ H6 ?@H 7:?5 @FCD6=G6D 2D D@4:6E2= AC@3=6> D@=G6CD 2D H6== 2D W:?X @FC =2H 6?7@C46>6?E >:DD:@?D[” w282>2? D2:5] “(:E9 E92E F?56CDE2?5:?8[ H6’G6 D66? E96 D2>6 A6@A=6 4J4=6 :? 2?5 @FE @7 :?42C46C2E:@?[ DECF88=:?8 H:E9 E96 D2>6 :DDF6D] {2H 6?7@C46>6?E 92D 2 A2CE:4F=2C 25G2?E286 3642FD6 H6’C6 23=6 E@ C6249 E96 A6@A=6 H9@ ?@C>2==J H@F=5?’E 4@>6 :?E@ 4@?E24E H:E9 EC62E>6?E 2?5 962=E9 AC@76DD:@?2=D :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ W2?5X H9@ 2C6 :? E96 >@DE ?665 @7 E9:D 7@4FD]”k^Am
kAmpD A2CE @7 E96 C6D62C49 AC@46DD[ E96 :?>2E6D H6C6 2D<65 E@ E2<6 2 DE2?52C5 p5G6CD6 r9:=59@@5 tIA6C:6?46D 2DD6DD>6?E E@ 255C6DD EC2F>2]k^Am
kAm%9:D C6D62C49 7@F?5 E92E he A6C46?E @7 E9@D6 :?E6CG:6H65 8C6H FA :? D@>6 D@CE @7 9@FD69@=5 5JD7F?4E:@? W2 A2C6?E H2D >6?E2==J :==[ A2C6?ED 23FD65 5CF8D @C 2=4@9@=[ A2C6?ED 925 366? :?42C46C2E65[ 5@>6DE:4 G:@=6?46 H2D AC6D6?E :? E96 9@>6 @C A2C6?ED H6C6 5:G@C465Xj ed A6C46?E 8C6H FA :? 23FD:G6 9@>6Dj 2?5 df A6C46?E H6C6 :? 2 9@>6 E92E H2D ?68=64E7F=]k^Am
kAm|6==:D9C6?4<6? D2:5 E92E 92=7 @7 E96 H@>6? D96 :?E6CG:6H65 C6A@CE65 D6IF2= 23FD6[ C2A6 @C >@=6DE2E:@? 2D 2 49:=5] $@>6 @7 E96 C6A@CE65 :?>2E6 6IA6C:6?46D H6C6 “D6G6C6 2?5 6IEC6>6[” 2?5 H6C6?’E 4@G6C65 2D A2CE @7 E96 DE2?52C5:K65 2DD6DD>6?E — DF49 2D 9F>2? EC277:4<:?8 2?5 49:=59@@5 232?5@?>6?E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ |6==:D9C6?4<6?] q@E9 @7 E96D6 E9:?8D H6C6 C6A@CE65 H:E9 E96 H@>6? 2E 2 9:896C C2E6 E92? |6==:D9C6?4<6? 6IA64E65j 49:=59@@5 232?5@?>6?E H2D C6A@CE65 H:E9 E96 >6?]k^Am
kAm#6D62C49 D9@H65 E92E c`]f A6C46?E @7 E96 492C86D E96 DEF5:65 :?>2E6D H6C6 8:G6? H6C6 5:C64E=J C6=2E65 E@ 5CF8D @C 2=4@9@=] ~7 E9@D6 ?@E 5:C64E=J 5CF8 2?5 2=4@9@= C6=2E65[ ga]h A6C46?E H6C6 4@>>:EE65 F?56C E96 :?7=F6?46 @C :? AFCDF:E @7 5CF8D @C 2=4@9@=] ~G6C2==[ h_ A6C46?E @7 E96 @776?D6D DEF5:65 4@F=5 36 =:?<65 E@ 5CF8D @C 2=4@9@= :? D@>6 42A24:EJ]k^Am
kAm%9@D6 H9@ 6IA6C:6?46 49:=59@@5 EC2F>2 2C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ 36 :?42C46C2E65[ 92G6 >6?E2= 962=E9 :DDF6D[ 36 :?G@=G65 :? 5@>6DE:4 G:@=6?46 @C 92G6 86?6C2= 962=E9 4@?46C?D[ |6==:D9C6?4<6? D2:5] (96? E2=<:?8 H:E9 E96 :?>2E6D[ |6==:D9C6?4<6? D2:5 D96 H@F=5 6IA=2:? 9@H EC2F>2E:4 49:=59@@5 6IA6C:6?46D 42? 42CCJ @G6C :?E@ 25F=E9@@5] (96? D@>6 @7 E96 :?>2E6D H@F=5 C62=:K6 E92E E96:C 6IA6C:6?46D >2J 92G6 2=E6C65 E96 H2J E96J E9:?< 2?5 24E[ “J@F D66 2 =:89E 4@>6 @? :? 2 =@E @7 E96:C 6J6D[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm|6==:D9C6?4<6? D2:5 E92E ge A6C46?E @7 E96 56E6?E:@? 46?E6C A@AF=2E:@? :D 9@FD65 2E E96 (2E2F82 r@F?EJ s6E6?E:@? r6?E6C =6DD E92? b_ 52JD[ H:E9 `` A6C46?E 9@FD65 36EH66? @?6 2?5 D:I >@?E9D 2?5 b A6C46?E 9@FD65 >@C6 E92? D:I >@?E9D] |6==:D9C6?4<6? D2:5 E92E 5FC:?8 E9:D E:>6[ A6@A=6 =@D6 7:?2?4:2= D64FC:EJ[ 6>A=@J>6?E @C 9@FD:?8 2?5 E96? 2C6 C6=62D65 324< :?E@ E96 H@C=5]k^Am
kAm“(6’C6 ?@E D@=G:?8 2?JE9:?8 3J ;FDE =@4<:?8 A6@A=6 FA 2?5 E9C@H:?8 2H2J E96 <6J[” |6==:D9C6?4<6? D2:5] “':CEF2==J 2== @7 @FC A@AF=2E:@? H:== 36 C6=62D65 324< :?E@ E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2E D@>6 A@:?Ej >@DE @7 E96> H:== 36 C6=62D65 562=:?8 H:E9 E96 D2>6 :DDF6D E92E 8@E E96> 2CC6DE65 :? E96 7:CDE A=246] x7 H6 ECF=J G2=F6 4@>>F?:EJ D276EJ 2?5 AC6G6?E:?8 7FEFC6 4C:>6[ 56E6?E:@? :D 2? 6I46==6?E :?E6CG6?E:@? A@:?E E@ DE2CE D@=G:?8 AC@3=6>D]”k^Am
kAmp7E6C |6==:D9C6?4<6? 925 4@==64E65 2== @7 E96 52E2[ D96 E96? A:=@E65 AC@8C2>D] ~?6 @7 E96 AC@8C2>D 4@?D:DE65 @7 E96 =:76 D<:==D 8C@FAD :? E9C66 @7 E96 7@FC A@5D :? E96 56E6?E:@? 46?E6C] {6DD@?D :? E96D6 8C@FAD H@F=5 96=A :?>2E6D H:E9 E@A:4D DF49 2D 2?86C >2?286>6?E @C 9@H E@ >2:?E2:? 962=E9J C6=2E:@?D9:AD] $96 2=D@ H@F=5 3C:?8 4@=@C A6?4:=D 2?5 @E96C >2E6C:2=D E@ 2==@H E:>6 7@C 2CE E96C2AJ 7@C :?>2E6D E@ HC:E6 @C 5C2H H92E H2D @? E96:C >:?5]k^Am
kAm(:E9 E96 8C2?E >@?6J pAAw62=E9r2C6 2?5 E96 D96C:77’D @77:46 H2D 2H2C565[ |6==:D9C6?4<6? D2:5 EH@ DF3DE2?46 23FD6 4FCC:4F=2 H6C6 AFC492D65 E@ 4@?E:?F6 E96D6 AC@8C2>D — @?6 7@C H@>6? 2?5 @?6 7@C >6?]k^Am
kAm{@42= 286?4:6D — DF49 2D ~p$x$ @C E96 r9:=5C6?’D r@F?4:= — H@F=5 G:D:E E96 ;2:= 2?5 E2=< H:E9 :?>2E6D 23@FE E96:C D6CG:46D] |6==:D9C6?4<6? H@F=5 2=D@ 92G6 “A66CD” E2=< H:E9 E96 :?>2E6Dj E96D6 H6C6 A6@A=6 H9@ 925 366? 2CC6DE65 367@C6 2?5 4@F=5 E2=< 23@FE E96:C 6IA6C:6?46 2?5 9@H E96J 3642>6 DF446DD7F= @FED:56 @7 :?42C46C2E:@?]k^Am
kAm“xE’D C62==J 6I4:E:?8 E@ 36 @FE :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 D66 A6@A=6 E92E J@F’G6 H@C<65 H:E9 E92E 2C6 5@:?8 C62==J H6== 2?5 H2?E E@ 4@>6 FA 2?5 E6== J@F 23@FE E96 ;@3 E92E E96J 92G6[ 9@H E96J’C6 E2<:?8 42C6 @7 E96:C 6=56C=J >@E96C ?@H @C 9@H E96J’C6 DA6?5:?8 >@C6 E:>6 H:E9 E96:C <:5D[” |6==:D9C6?4<6? D2:5]k^Am
kAm|6==:D9C6?4<6? 7@F?5 96C A2DD:@? :? 96=A:?8 E9@D6 :? :?42C46C2E:@? H:E9 96C D@4:2= H@C< D<:==D 2D 2 A6CD@? :? C64@G6CJ 96CD6=7] $96 D2:5 D96’D 366? D6G6? J62CD D@36C 2?5 564:565 E@ 565:42E6 96C =:76 E@ 96=A:?8 @E96CD] |6==:D9C6?4<6? 5:D4@G6C65 E92E A6@A=6 H6C6 H2DE:?8 E96:C =:G6D :? ;2:= “3642FD6 @7 2 DJDE6> E92E 6:E96C 5@6D?’E 24<?@H=6586 @C 5@6D?’E <?@H 9@H E@ 255C6DD 255:4E:@? 2?5 >6?E2= :==?6DD]”k^Am
kAm“Wx?>2E6D 2C6X E96 62D:6DE E@ 3=2>6 7@C E96:C 4:C4F>DE2?46D[ E96J C646:G6 E96 76H6DE C6D@FC46D 2?5 E96J’C6 E96 BF:4<6DE E@ 36 7@C8@EE6? 23@FE[” |6==:D9C6?4<6? D2:5] “~?46 J@F’G6 8@EE6? 2 4@FA=6 @7 492C86D 2?5 92G6 366? =236=65 2D 2 EC@F3=6>2<6C[ A6@A=6 8:G6 FA @? J@F]”k^Am
kAm|6==:D9C6?4<6? D2:5 :E :D ?@E 4FCC6?E=J A2CE @7 56E6?E:@? AC@465FC6 E@ 7@==@H FA H:E9 :?>2E6D @?46 E96J’G6 366? C6=62D65] $96 5@6D 7@==@H FA H:E9 286?4:6D E@ 6?DFC6 2? :?>2E6 92D >256 :E E@ EC62E>6?E :7 E96 A6CD@? H:D965 E@ 8@[ 2D H6== 6?4@FC286 A6@A=6 E@ 42== E96 ;2:= 2?5 E2=< H:E9 96C :7 E96J ?665 2 =:EE=6 5:C64E:@?[ D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmpAAw62=E9r2C6 92D C646?E=J A@DE65 2 A66C DFAA@CE A6CD@? A@D:E:@? 2?5 :D =@@<:?8 E@ 7:== :E :? E96 4@>:?8 >@?E9D] (96? E96 A@D:E:@? :D FA 2?5 CF??:?8[ E9:D A6CD@? H:== 36 23=6 E@ 7@==@H FA 2?5 4@?E:?F6 E@ H@C< H:E9 A6@A=6 @FED:56 @7 4@?7:?6>6?E E@ 6?DFC6 E96:C A=2? :D H@C<:?8 D>@@E9=J[ |6==:D9C6?4<6? D2:5]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< |@==:6 92D 5@?6 2? :?4C65:3=6 ;@3 E@ 8:G6 9@A6 2?5 =:?< A6@A=6 E@ C6D@FC46D[” vC66?6 D2:5] “(6’C6 G6CJ 8C2E67F= E@ 96C 2?5 96C A2DD:@? 7@C 96=A:?8 @E96CD]”k^Am
kAm%96 8C2?E 7F?5:?8 |6==:D9C6?4<6?’D A@D:E:@? H:== 6IA:C6 :? yF?6] vC66?6 D2:5 E96 962=E9 56A2CE>6?E 2?5 E96 D96C:77’D @77:46 H:== 36 =@@<:?8 2E H2JD E@ >2<6 2== @7 :ED :?:E:2E:G6D DFDE2:?23=6 H9:=6 2=D@ 9@A:?8 E96 A@D:E:@? 42? 36 C67F?565 E9C@F89 2?@E96C 8C2?E @C 255:E:@?2= 5@==2CD]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.