Joedy Marlatt, an electrician at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution (EOCI), has helped hundreds of adults in custody complete Registered Apprenticeship programs while incarcerated.
Most recently, his apprentice Tariq Knapper earned a perfect score on his Limited Energy Technician license exam — the final step in the program. When Joedy shared the news, Knapper said that with his license and training, he was set up for success after release. He couldn’t wait to call his grandmother. Joedy remembers when Knapper first started at the Plant and couldn’t identify basic tools.
Another former apprentice from the Boiler Operator Program, now released and off probation, regularly sends photos of his check stubs to Joedy and his journey-level worker as a thank you. This time, he said, he left prison with a clear plan — determined to secure employment and rebuild his relationship with his daughter without delay.
Joedy keeps books filled with letters from past apprentices — expressions of gratitude and testimonials about how apprenticeship and teamwork at the Physical Plant helped them grow and change while mastering a trade. One apprentice wrote, “You taught me what it means to be a man.”
Spend time with the apprentices at EOCI, and their pride is evident. They look forward to coming to work. They take on new challenges eagerly and even read codebooks in the evening. Plant Journeyman apprentice Steve Larsen explained it simply: “We have nothing but time while we are serving our sentence. The apprenticeship gives us a purpose while we are here.”
The Federal Perkins Grant, administered by the Oregon Department of Education, supports these Career and Technical Education programs through annual funding. Grant funds provide training materials, professional development for staff, and certifications such as First Aid/CPR and OSHA 10. Perkins funding also supports shorter-term programs in culinary, custodial, and welding trades — including books and industry-recognized credentials.
Apprenticeship and Work Skills Coordinator Megan Cogswell is continually exploring new programs and ways to support both staff and apprentices. Recently, Corrections added a Limited Energy A Class Technician program and is developing a Forest Conservation Worker training program. The goal is clear: help adults in custody earn industry-recognized credentials and meaningful work experience while developing pro-social behaviors that support long-term success. This month, Cogswell is also helping proctor the WorkKeys exam at Coffee Creek for electrical, HVAC, and plumbing apprentices, as well as other women interested in the trades.
With updated plumbing and electrical codes released this year, new materials were needed — codebooks, tabs, study guides, and handbooks. Coordinating orders for 10 participating prisons and multiple vendors was no small task. “It was a little overwhelming,” Cogswell said, “but worth it when a staff member emailed to say it felt like Christmas morning for the apprentices.”
That gratitude is what keeps staff motivated.
For some apprentices, completing a program is the first time they’ve experienced success in an educational setting. Like Knapper, they understand that earning a journey card — and, for plumbers and electricians, a professional license — opens doors to stable careers and living-wage jobs.
Staff know these programs change lives. Joedy Marlatt has seen it firsthand.
“I’ve trained over 50 electricians over the past 20 years and only know of two who returned to prison,” he said. “The guys keep in touch with me after probation and let me know how they’re doing. It’s a gift to be able to offer these programs.”
Story by Megan Cogswell
