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Sheriff: Red Legacy Recovery program has made a difference at jail

By Nathan Baker

A new alcohol and drug recovery program being tested in the Carter County Jail was unveiled Thursday morning in the County Courthouse.

Carter County Sheriff Chris Mathes, Sullivan County legislator Tony Shipley and Red Legacy Recovery co-founders Angelee Murray and Layla Wright touted the benefits of the new program aimed at women incarcerated in the Carter County Jail.

Through the Red Legacy program, started in October, Murray and Wright hold classes in the jail every other Monday to teach jailed women life skills to help them become productive members of society.

“We do everything from self-confidence and self-esteem building to public speaking, money management, parenting skills and classes, goal setting, vision casting and creative writing and journaling,” Murray said of the four-hour classes. “One of the biggest things we’ve seen from the relationships we’re creating in the jail is that when these women are released they’re contacting us to let us know how they’re doing or to ask for advice.”

To help maintain the relationships formed behind the walls of the jail after inmates are released, the fledgling program recently added public workshops open to women on the outside.