ROCKWALL COUNTY, TX (April 21, 2026) – The Rockwall County Detention Center offers a variety of inmate programs designed to improve safety during incarceration and equip inmates with the skills needed for successful reintegration into society. Because many individuals reenter the local community after release, these initiatives focus on reducing recidivism and promoting positive contributions to society. It is the mission of the Rockwall County Detention Center to maximize community safety by confining offenders in a controlled environment that is safe, humane, cost-efficient, and appropriately secure.
Programs Coordinator Officer Erin “Roady” Klosterman highlights the significance of structured programs in achieving these objectives. Among the initiatives are the Pathways to H.O.P.E. Restorative Justice and Reentry Program, Alcoholics Anonymous, Equine-Assisted Therapy, Mental Health Therapy, Veterans Support Group, and Religious Services, all of which are tailored to reduce the rate of recidivism.
In addition, Officer Klosterman organized a job fair at the Detention Center, facilitating connections between inmates and local employers and vocational training partners. This fair represents a commitment from Rockwall County residents and employers toward supporting reentry solutions that enhance public safety and bolster workforce development.
The Pathways to H.O.P.E. (Helping Offenders Pursue Excellence) initiative is a comprehensive reentry program developed in collaboration with One CommunityUSA and the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office. It prepares detainees for a smoother transition back into society by offering 22 one-hour courses every eight weeks, culminating in a graduation ceremony. Participants qualify to receive ongoing support for 18 months post-release.
Ian Feuer, President of One CommunityUSA, remarks, “Real change begins with trust, action, and unity. From mentorship to crime reduction, every program is designed to strengthen communities, one relationship at a time.”
Kelley Akins, MS, LPC-S, serves as the Director of Behavioral Health at the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office and leads an innovative intern program that trains future Licensed Professional Counselors while providing essential mental health services to inmates. Currently overseeing 21 interns who assist 56 inmates, this program saves the county from the high costs of additional full-time counselors. A single counseling session could cost approximately $150; with 56 inmates receiving weekly sessions, this initiative saves the county around $8,400 per month, translating to over $100,000 annually. The counseling services offer inmates valuable insights and support, often for the first time, facilitating continued mental health care after their release and helping reduce incidents and recidivism within the facility.
Paige Courtney is the founder of Aisling Equine Therapy, an innovative program that supports inmates as they transition back into society. This program aims to encourage, challenge, and potentially redirect inmates toward new, positive paths upon their release.
The selection process for participants in the program is comprehensive, requiring thorough evaluations, official reports, and psychological screenings conducted by Kelley Akins and Paige Courtney, who is PATH Certified CTRI & ESMHL. Strict criteria are in place to ensure that individuals assigned to the program do not have maximum security backgrounds or prior charges related to animal abuse.
Equine-Assisted Therapy provides both individual weekly sessions and group sessions focused on equine learning. Engaging with horses helps inmates not only learn about equine behavior but also fosters a greater understanding of themselves. They discover that horses are intuitive animals that react to a person’s attitude and actions. This awareness enables them to recognize how their behavior influences those around them.
Sgt. Magdalena Lozano, the Manager of the Detention Center Support Services Department, notes that many detainees arrive with little knowledge of basic life skills such as cooking and cleaning. Inmate workers are trained to prepare daily meals for fellow detainees, gaining skills applicable to the food service industry. Additionally, some inmates are assigned to laundry services, caring for personal items, jumpsuits, and bedding.
Health Services Administrator Erica Boyd and her Turn Key (TK) Health team provide medical care for the detainees 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TK Health’s mission is to provide the best correctional health partnership for dedicated law enforcement and detention agencies within our region, with a strong focus on quality care, quality service, and accountability for the use of taxpayer resources. They aim to enhance the delivery of healthcare for correctional facilities while controlling the program’s financial burdens on the communities they serve. In essence, TK Health’s mission combines compassionate, individualized care with operational efficiency and fiscal responsibility, making them a trusted health partner for correctional facilities across their service region.
The Detention Center is looking to Securus Technologies to support safe, efficient operations and maintain important connections between incarcerated individuals and their loved ones. Their technology bridges the digital divide for incarcerated individuals by enabling secure communication and access to digital resources through tablet-based solutions. For staff, their solutions act as a force multiplier by helping identify and respond to potential risks. By replacing manual processes with technology, staff can focus more on active facility management and day-to-day safety.
For incarcerated individuals, services such as calling and video visitation help reduce the physical distance between individuals and their support networks, connections that are important as they prepare for a successful return to the community. Access to tablets with approved educational, workforce training, wellness, religious, and entertainment content also helps individuals spend their time more productively, reducing idle time. The result is a safer, more stable environment for everyone inside the facility.
Traditional methods of managing incarceration have often concentrated on merely processing individuals, overlooking the root issues they face, which greatly limits their effectiveness. In contrast, the specialized programs implemented at the Rockwall County Detention Center aim to target initiatives that can positively influence inmate behavior and drive broader social change.
Submitted by Jim Barto, Rockwall County Public Information Officer.
Beneficial Programs and Services for the Detainees at the Rockwall County Detention Center added by Sam Redig on
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