NSA hosts I.G.N.I.T.E. Day as program expands to 37 counties

The National Sheriffs’ Association is spotlighting its I.G.N.I.T.E. jail education and reentry program at its annual conference in Omaha on June 9. The sheriff-led model is now active in 37 counties across 16 states, with research tying participation to lower recidivism, less jail misconduct and social-cost savings.

Why it matters: - I.G.N.I.T.E. is positioned as a sheriff-led way to use jail time for education and reentry preparation without adding major headcount or capital costs. - Independent research links participation to a 24% reduction in short-term recidivism, a 25% drop in jail misconduct and more than $7,200 in social-cost savings per participant in the first year. - Sheriffs can use those outcomes when talking to county boards, legislators and the public about jail programming and safety.

What happened: - The National Sheriffs’ Association is holding I.G.N.I.T.E. Day on Tuesday, June 9, during the NSA Annual Conference in Omaha. - The event brings together current and prospective I.G.N.I.T.E. partners for presentations, discussions, networking and peer-to-peer learning. - Attendees will hear practical implementation strategies they can use in their own operations. - Securus Technologies is serving as a supporting partner and event sponsor.

The details: - I.G.N.I.T.E. stands for Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education. - Sheriff Christopher R. Swanson of the Genesee County, Michigan Sheriff’s Office developed the program. - NSA formally established I.G.N.I.T.E. as a national program in 2021. - The program is now active in 37 counties across 16 states. - Securus Technologies provides secure technology infrastructure that helps agencies and correctional facilities deliver education, workforce development and training. - The technology is used across pretrial, sentenced and short-stay populations. - I.G.N.I.T.E. Day includes peer-led sessions and a live demonstration from inside a correctional facility. - Scheduled sessions include a GED and education partnerships panel from 8:00–9:00 AM, a reentry discussion from 9:15–10:15 AM and a live video call from a corrections facility from 2:00–3:00 PM. - Sheriff Hulse of Bonneville County, Idaho will discuss GED programming and community partnerships. - Sheriff Quattrone of Chautauqua County, New York will discuss coordinated reentry strategies. - The live session will feature The Solution programming. - Meghan Beal, I.G.N.I.T.E. Director at NSA, said the event lets sheriffs learn from peers who are embedding education into daily operations. - Kevin Elder, Interim CEO & President of Securus Technologies, said sheriffs are balancing safety, staffing, public accountability and reentry expectations every day. - Elder said Securus’ role is to support that work with secure, reliable technology that fits day-to-day jail operations. - Securus Technologies will be on-site to support agencies and explain how technology can expand programming access while maintaining safety and security.

Between the lines: - The program’s growth suggests sheriffs are looking for models that show measurable outcomes and operational fit, not just new programming ideas. - The research-backed results give the initiative a data point that can help move it from a conference topic to a budget and policy conversation. - Securus’ role shows how technology vendors are helping corrections agencies scale programming across different custody populations.

What’s next: - Sheriffs attending I.G.N.I.T.E. Day are expected to leave with implementation ideas they can apply immediately. - NSA and participating agencies are likely to use the Omaha conference to recruit more counties into the program. - Securus plans to continue supporting agencies that want to expand education and reentry programming while maintaining security.

The bottom line: - I.G.N.I.T.E. is moving from a local jail model to a national sheriff-led program with documented outcomes and growing technology support.