BOLEY, Okla. – Inmates at John H. Lilley Correctional Center in Boley, Okla., have constructed a new barbershop, transforming a previously unused space into a functional and modern facility for their peers. Compared to the previous setup, the new space allows for more efficient barber services, including haircuts, trims and shaves.
Remarkably, it has been less than three months since the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the JLCC control center, which the same group of inmates constructed. They again applied their construction skills to bring the warden’s vision for the barbershop to life.
Warden Terry Tuggle has wanted to improve the barbershop since he first arrived at JLCC four years ago. He recognized the old barbershop, built in 1985, could not adequately service all 840 inmates residing at the facility. He discovered a space being used for discarded equipment that could be renovated into a barbershop with a little bit of work. The barbershop is now large enough to service three customers at a time. It comfortably holds three barber chairs, three sinks, a waiting area for three chairs, plus enough storage space for all the needed supplies.
Tuggle said, “This project was specifically for the inmate population, and they were a major part of the process, from the planning to reality. I am extremely proud of their efforts, and they are extremely proud of what they accomplished.”
One of the barbers commented, “There is a huge difference. The old shop was close quarters. It was sort of comical because we were bumping into each other. It’s a lot better in this facility. It’s very clean and nice. It’s much improved.”
Sgt. Cody Lee oversaw the project. He has already noticed how the barbershop has increased morale at JLCC. It was logistically difficult to schedule one person at a time when so many men needed a haircut. In turn, it has decreased behavior issues. Lee added, “Projects like this give them something to do and occupy their time. It increases their skills and experience so they can use those skills when they are released.”
Fourteen inmates contributed their plumbing, electrical, HVAC and carpentry skills to the construction of the barbershop. Jack Barnett, one of the carpenters on the construction team, said, “It’s been a gift from God to be able to hone my skills. I’ve always been good at that. But I think it’s a gift from God to be able to use my hands.”
As a result, inmates in need of a barber benefit from their peers’ expertise. This fosters a sense of community within the facility and exemplifies how they can achieve similar successes after their release, contributing to society by using the skills learned during incarceration. Another barber at JLCC shared, “My sister is a barber out in the world, and she wants me to come help her when I get out in three months.”
Both Tuggle and Lee would like to eventually see this program become a pathway for the barbers to earn an official state license, much like the Re-entry Investment/Student Education (R.I.S.E) program, a licensing cosmetology program offered to female inmates at Mabel Bassett Correctional Center in McLoud, Okla., and soon at Eddie Warrior Correctional Center in Taft, Okla. R.I.S.E. boasts a zero percent recidivism rate.
The staff at JLCC will work through funding challenges to launch a similar program. Additionally, the barbershop would need to be about three times larger, but they remain committed to achieving this goal. The warden said, “Right now, I am happy that our inmate population has a barbershop they can be proud of.”
ODOC offers numerous projects and programs to inmates, using evidence-based curricula proven to reduce recidivism. These initiatives help keep inmates actively developing marketable skills they can use to find employment or start their own businesses after release. Programs such as these expose the incarcerated population to many opportunities they may not have previously considered. The warden adds, “JLCC is constantly trying to find new ways to live up to the Oklahoma Department of Correction’s vision statement of ‘We Change Lives.’”
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