School Address: Dallas County Jail Selma AL 36702
School District: Safetynet Academy
County: Dallas County
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The Perry Varner Boot Camp at Dallas County Jail in Selma, AL is a rigorous, military-style program designed for non-violent offenders ages 18-35. The program is named after former Selma Police Chief Perry Varner, who developed the program in 1992 as an alternative to traditional incarceration. The goal of the boot camp is to rehabilitate inmates through a combination of discipline, physical fitness, education, and job training. Inmates at the Perry Varner Boot Camp are housed in a separate facility from the main jail and are subject to strict rules and regulations. They are required to wake up early and participate in daily physical fitness activities, including running, calisthenics, and team sports. The program also includes a focus on character development and personal responsibility, with inmates participating in group counseling and classes on anger management, substance abuse, and life skills. In addition to the physical and mental aspects of the boot camp, inmates are also required to work in various jobs within the jail, such as kitchen duty, maintenance, or laundry. This provides them with job skills and work experience that can help them reintegrate into society upon release. The duration of the program is six months, with the first two weeks being a strict orientation period where inmates are taught the rules and expectations of the boot camp. Throughout the program, inmates are evaluated on their progress and can earn privileges and early release if they meet certain criteria. The Perry Varner Boot Camp has been praised for its success in reducing recidivism rates and helping inmates turn their lives around. However, the program is not easy, and not all inmates are able to complete it. Those who are expelled or fail to complete the program are returned to the main jail to serve their original sentence. Overall, the Perry Varner Boot Camp at Dallas County Jail is a challenging but effective program that aims to rehabilitate inmates and prepare them for a successful reentry into society.