Jail Program: Summit County Launches IGNITE, Education Options, Recidivism Data

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AKRON, Ohio – The Summit County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday formally launched the I.G.N.I.T.E. program at the Summit County Jail, introducing a nationally backed initiative aimed at expanding education and training for incarcerated people while reducing misconduct and repeat jail stays.

I.G.N.I.T.E. — short for Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education — was developed in Genesee County, Michigan in 2020 and adopted as a nationwide initiative by the National Sheriffs’ Association the following year. Summit County becomes the 34th county in the United States to adopt the program and the largest of five counties in Ohio currently participating, according to information shared at the launch event.

Sheriff Kandy Fatheree said the county’s adoption will serve as an “umbrella” for programs already offered at the jail and help the Sheriff’s Office expand partnerships.

“Our adoption of the I.G.N.I.T.E. initiative will not only serve as an umbrella for the many existing programs we already offer, allowing them to grow and flourish – it will also help us attract new partners and build new relationships with organizations, non-profits, and employers willing to give inmates a second chance,” Fatheree said.

What the IGNITE Program Includes

According to the Sheriff’s Office, I.G.N.I.T.E. is designed to transform participants’ lives by providing education and job skills, building pride and empowerment, improving safety inside county jails, changing societal views, and reducing recidivism.

The program includes:

• Educational and training offerings
• Job certification opportunities
• Connections to post-incarceration employment
• Incentives for positive behavior and engagement with jail staff
• Links to resources intended to help individuals adjust after release

National Data Cited at Launch

Jessica Vanderpool, representing the National Sheriffs’ Association, cited research from Harvard University, Brown University, and the University of Michigan indicating measurable changes for participants. Among the findings shared:

• One month in I.G.N.I.T.E. reduced likelihood of jail misconduct by 25%
• The three-month recidivism rate dropped 24%
• Participants gained an average of one full grade level in math and reading proficiency

Fatheree said lowering recidivism is a communitywide benefit — for people re-entering society, for a strained criminal justice system, and for taxpayers funding repeated incarcerations.

Speakers and Local Partners

Other speakers at the ceremony included Sandusky County Sheriff Chris Hilton, described as the first sheriff in Ohio to adopt I.G.N.I.T.E., and Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer, who praised the program and discussed changes she has seen over her career related to re-entry and recidivism reduction.

The Sheriff’s Office also highlighted existing partners who will now be connected under the I.G.N.I.T.E. framework, including:

• Stark State College
• Career Prep+
• Challenge Ministries
• The Carpenters Union

“There’s great power in helping someone tap into their own potential and realize what they’re capable of,” Fatheree said. “And I can tell you firsthand that there’s so much potential within the walls of this jail.”