Augusta Tech and Office of District Attorney Sign MOU to Establish Participation in the Checks Over Stripes Program
Wednesday, February 28th, 2024
Augusta Technical College President Dr. Jermaine Whirl and Office of District Attorney of the Augusta Circuit Jared T. Williams officially entered into a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a ceremonial agreement signing.
The purpose of this MOU is to establish a partnership between the District Attorney's office and Augusta Tech to facilitate the participation of Augusta Tech in the Checks Over Stripes Program.
Checks Over Stripes is a crime prevention and community safety strategy of the District Attorney’s Office. Its mission is to reduce crime by preventing repeat offenses by young people. It seeks to change lives and transform generations.
“It’s a simple concept: get first time offenders educated, employed, and empowered to not become career criminals,” stated District Attorney Williams. “I am proud to stand with Augusta Tech in using education to break the cycle of incarceration.”
Augusta Tech, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, is a public postsecondary academic institution that builds a skilled workforce and economically stronger communities through high-quality, innovative, and affordable career-advancing credentials. The District Attorney's office is committed to implementing the Checks Over Stripes Program, an initiative aimed at providing educational opportunities for program participants as an alternative to traditional sentencing.
Augusta Tech has agreed to offer its standard adult education classes to program participants referred by the District Attorney's office. The classes will be offered at a frequency of 6 hours per week, providing participants with opportunities for educational and vocational skill development.
"Augusta Tech is proud to partner with District Attorney Jared Williams and his team on providing educational opportunities for individuals in our justice system. The Checks Over Stripes Program is aligned with our open access mission, and we look forward to serving each individual," stated Dr. Jermaine Whirl.
