Northern Branch Jail inmates celebrate completing college courses, one accomplishes certificate program

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – The Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office Programs Unit and Allan Hancock College honored 27 incarcerated students that completed college courses while at the Northern Branch Jail.

Some of the successful completions included: 12 students completed HUSV 103: Basic Counseling Skills, ten students completed Econ 130: Consumer and Family Finance, and five students who completed Bus 303: Sales and Marketing.

One student was able to complete a certificate program in Addiction Studies Foundation.

Courses at NBJ started in March of this year and has provided 19 college courses to over 150 incarcerated students.

Both Allan Hancock College and Santa Barbara City College offer a rotating catalogue of courses at Northern Branch and Main Jails respectively.

Sheriff Bill Brown said, “The Sheriff’s Office and Allan Hancock College have proudly partnered to offer a wide variety of educational classes in the Northern Branch Jail that provide inmates with opportunities for personal and professional growth, meaningful employment, and a successful return to the community. When this happens, lives are revitalized, recidivism is reduced, and our communities are made safer.”