The GED program at the Knox County Sheriff’s Detention Center graduated 31 people in the first six months of starting the classes in February.  The Sheriff’s Office is contracted with the Knox County Schools Adult Education Program which provides two instructors at the Detention Facility.  The inmates have two classrooms, one for men and the other for women.

During the same period, the Knox County Jail graduated 7 inmates.  The GED program has been available in that facility for the past two years with an instructor available through Pellissippi State.  Inmates have their classes in the jail library.

The GED course is offered to all inmates, although some are restricted because of security issues.  Plans are in the works to expand the program to those maximum security inmates in the next month.

According to state numbers, the Knox County Corrections Division ranked first in the entire state for the number of graduates.