MoCo Government

MoCo Department of Correction and Rehabilitation Reintroduces Bakery Program

By MCS Staff


Montgomery County has reintroduced the bakery program at its Department of Correction and Rehabilitation (DOCR). County Executive Marc Elrich provided an updated from a recent visit to the bakery, where met the participants and sampled some of the baked goods.

The Bakery Program was one of DOCR’s signature inmate training programs, which prior to abolishment in the FY10 Operating Budget, provided participating inmates with a Certified Food Services Manager License from the County’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as well as practical food preparation skills that had resulted in a nearly 100% job placement rate upon release.

The program also provided baked goods that were used as part of the larger inmate nutritional plan, supporting approximately 2,300 meals per day. At the time, it provided job skills development for approximately 25 inmates per year. The program was eliminated to provide fiscal capacity to support other DOCR functions during the Great Recession, but recently returned. The new program is supported by one Program Manager I position and one part-time contractor.

Per Marc Elrich: “I recently visited this bakery, met the participants and sampled some of their baked goods. The food was great (even if it did not fit in my diet), but it was worth making an exception. It was evident that these participants were learning a useful skill that will help them find employment once their time is served.

Before the program was discontinued some years ago, its graduates went on to good jobs that were available because of the skills they developed. I know this program is going to build on that success. This is what we want people doing while they are serving time in our detention center. Our goal is to make sure they do not ever come back. By giving them this opportunity and training, we will be reducing recidivism rates.”