Kneeling is Jail Chemical Addiction Program Graduate Scotty Poe. Standing, from left, are JCAP Graduate Gary Werb; Kosciusko County Jail Commander Shane Coney; Kosciusko County JCAP Coordinator Courtney Jenkins; JCAP Graduates Austin Griffith, Ryan Kauffman, Jason Cook, Richard Williams, Mathew “Eddie” Ewing, and Brock O’Brien; and Kosciusko County Sheriff Kyle Dukes. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Shepherd.

WARSAW — Eight men graduated from Kosciusko County’s Jail Chemical Addiction Program (JCAP) during a ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 10.

JCAP was launched in 2018 to address substance abuse issues suffered by many jail inmates and involves participation in classes covering areas such as physical fitness, spirituality, life skills, leadership and financial counseling.

Graduates from Kosciusko County’s 13th JCAP class were: Jason Cook, Mathew “Eddie” Ewing, Austin Griffith, Ryan Kauffman, Brock O’Brien, Scotty Poe, Gary Werb, and Richard Williams.

A packed room of mentors, supporters and community members attended the graduation.

Kosciusko County Sheriff Kyle Dukes encouraged the graduates to rekindle their relationships with their loved ones upon their release.

“I wish you nothing but success,” said Dukes.

JCAP Coordinator Courtney Jenkins thanked the community for their support of the JCAP program.

“I am just so grateful, we have an amazing community,” said Jenkins. “When I look at all the organizations and the businesses and the individuals who come together to help us, it truly is amazing. It makes me a little overwhelmed with gratitude that people will take a random phone call from me and say yes, that they’ll come into a jail and hang out for an hour a week and pour their life wisdom and experiences into our participants. These guys are so much better for what you’ve given them.”

During the ceremony, the eight graduates focused their speeches on thanking those who provided them with mentoring, teaching and programming through JCAP.

All graduates received CPR certification cards from Corporal Skyler Holsclaw. They also received certificates of completion from Kosciusko County Sheriff Kyle Dukes, Kosciusko County Jail Commander Shane Coney and Allen County Sheriff-Elect Troy Hershberger.

Hershberger and Allen County JCAP Coordinator Cpl. Keely Ray were both in attendance for the ceremony, as the Kosciusko County JCAP staff have helped Allen County with establishing their JCAP program.

Community organizations and individuals who contributed to programming for November’s graduating class were Allison Berger, 1st Source Bank; Melanie Wilhite and Heidi Blake, W.A.I.T.; Cynthia Thomas, GED class; Lindsay Foster, parenting class; Don Swartzentruber, art class; Luke Neer, fitness; Bowen Center; Lake City Bank; Tim Van Duyne, WorkForce education; Don Halvorsen, fitness; The Beaman Home; Quality Correctional Care; CORE Mechanical; Tim Traxler, Inside Out Dad; Tabitha Gabbard, Seeking Safety; Celebrate Recovery; Deputy Steve Watkins, Smart Recovery; Shanna Atteberry, life skills; Jeff Glock and Jamie Bowers, Bible study; and Cpl. Skyler Holsclaw, CPR.