‘Program basically helps inmates to start over’- Trent Coffey

TOP PHOTO: Trent Coffey with Campbell United reported that the Career Correctional Pathways Program would be up and running soon.

By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- Campbell United, Campbell County’s anti-drug coalition, met at TCAT Jacksboro on Thursday at noon for its August meeting. Coalition organizers gave an update on several projects the coalition is working on, including the Career Correctional Programs.

Trent Coffey with Campbell United reported that the Career Correctional Pathways Program would be up and running soon.

Career Correctional Pathways helps provide inmates with access to resources to find employment, pay off fines and “basically start over.”

Organizers met with officials at the Campbell County Sheriff’s Department back in June.

According to Coffey, who has experience with running the program in Scott County, Campbell County will start with four inmates who are going to be “vetted soon” and that once a factory was identified that would participate in the program, it would be “up and running.”

The employment has to be at a factory or business in Campbell County. Inmates are equipped with ankle monitors and “everything gets vetted through the sheriff”, according to Coffey, who said that the program would “start small and grow.”

The hope is for the program to launch in about six weeks.

Several community outreach partners such as The Harbor asked about working with this program to help provide outreach ministry to inmates participating in the program.

Campbell United will also start having a presence in Jellico and attending health council meetings or also maybe holding some coalition meetings in Jellico as well to build up a presence in that community.

Campbell United organizers also gave an update on the National Night Out event they participated in, saying it went well.

“I bet we made around 500 cotton candies and every one of those kids said thank you. We had a good time, and we were blessed to be there,” Coffey said.

The next Campbell United meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September, 11, 2025, at noon, at TCAT Jacksboro at 265 Elkins Road. Organizers encourage community leaders, nonprofits, organizations, and others to join! (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-08/18/2025-6AM)

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