I.G.N.I.T.E Program
In January 2026, Sheriff Fatheree announced the launch of the I.G.N.I.T.E. program within the Summit County Jail.
I.G.N.I.T.E. (Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education) was first developed in Genesee County, MI in 2020, and was adopted as a nationwide initiative the following year by the National Sheriff’s Association. The program is designed to transform the lives of those incarcerated in county jails by providing education and skills, fostering a sense of pride and empowerment in participants, changing societal views, increasing safety within our jails, and reducing recidivism.
“The ultimate goal of I.G.N.I.T.E. and one of my top goals as Sheriff is to reduce recidivism, which is beneficial to everyone in our community: The inmates who get their lives back on track and becomes productive members of society, our overburdened criminal justice system, and every county resident whose tax dollars pay for those repeated incarcerations,” said Sheriff Fatheree.
IGNITE offers an array of educational and training programs, job certification, and opportunities for post-incarceration employment. It incentivizes positive behavior and engagement with law enforcement and corrections staff, and connects participants with critical resources that will assist them with adjusting after release.
Researchers from Harvard, Brown, and the University of Michigan have found that just one month in the IGNITE program reduced the likelihood of jail misconduct by 25% among participants, reduced the 3-month recidivism rate by 24%, and reduced the 12-month societal cost of crime by $7,285 per individual. On average, IGNITE participants gained a full grade level in math and reading proficiency.
Summit County is the 34th county in the United States to adopt the I.G.N.I.T.E. initiative, and the largest of the five in Ohio to introduce the program.
“There’s great power in helping someone tap into their own potential and realize what they’re capable of,” said Sheriff Fatheree, “and I can tell you firsthand that there’s so much potential within the walls of this jail.”
