Second class graduates from IGNITE program at Butler County Prison
Jeffrey Wilkins has been in prison 16 of the last 19 years. He said he was stuck in a cycle.
Wilkins said he previously put economic value above all else and was content with a cycle of making money, going to jail, getting out and then repeating the pattern. He thought it was an even trade-off.
Wilkins was one of 10 people incarcerated in Butler County Prison who graduated from the second IGNITE program Wednesday, May 6. In the last 16 years, Wilkinson said it was the last month or so in the program that changed him the most.
“A lot of things that happen in your life is your perception, and my perception has changed since I’ve been down here,” he said.
The IGNITE, which stands for Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education, attempts to reduce recidivism by teaching inmates skills and providing an education that will give them additional avenues to take upon release instead of potentially breaking the law again.
Butler County Sheriff Mike Slupe learned of the program at a National Sheriffs’ Association conference. Butler County officials visited the Fayette County Prison to see how the program is operated there. It was adopted at the Butler County Prison by June 2025.
“Imagine your life is a room you’re building from scratch. What does the foundation represent? What kind of walls are you installing, and who do you allow through them?” he said.
Wilkins said if he had a do-over in life, he would build a foundation of wisdom. The walls would be comprised of integrity, regret, love and pain. He has learned to live with all of them.
But the walls aren’t solid. There are hatches and balconies with room to build on what he’s learned.
Dylan Hinchberger, who was part of the first graduating class, participated again as a mentor. He explained how the program included classes and activities that helped him overcome his fear of public speaking.
“A lot of us were incarcerated before we were incarcerated — mentally incarcerated,” Hinchberger said. “All the things I was doing in the street, I was here before I was here.”
He and other students went to church and received weekly visits from All Saints Parish and Revival Today Church in Beaver County, took classes on financial literacy, history, debate and even victim impact lessons. They all also signed up for PA CareerLink and became ServSafe certified. Two of them received their GEDs.
“What I get from church is that we have to find the spirit inside of us however we can,” Hinchberger said.
The program has a backlog of incarcerated people waiting to get in, according to Warden Beau Sneddon. He initially intended for five to six weeks to pass before the jail welcomed the next class, but after the first graduation, he knew it had to be sooner.
Admission to the program requires an interview process and 60 hours of training.
