Promises Kept: A New Chapter of Collaboration in Surry County

When community leaders make promises, the true measure of progress comes in their ability to deliver. In Surry County, we are seeing that commitment in action. On August 20, 2025, the Surry County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), Surry Community College (SCC), and the Surry County Office of Substance Abuse Recovery (SCOSAR) launched an innovative GED Educational Services Program inside the Surry County Detention Center—fulfilling a vision that has been long-discussed and deeply needed.

Collaboration in Action

This partnership is more than a pilot program; it’s a promise kept. Sheriff Steve Hiatt has consistently spoken of the importance of rehabilitation and second chances, and with the support of SCOSAR and SCC, that promise is becoming reality. Weekly GED classes now provide detainees with the opportunity to pursue high school equivalency in four core subjects—Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Math.

Education is a proven pathway toward reducing recidivism, building confidence, and opening doors to future employment. But it takes more than words to create lasting change—it takes collaboration. Here, three departments came together, united by a common vision: a safer, stronger community built on opportunity and accountability.

Leadership That Follows Through

Sheriff Hiatt expressed his pride in the program, noting that it represents more than instruction—it represents belief in people. Chairman Mark Marion of the Surry County Board of Commissioners echoed that sentiment, emphasizing how education is an investment not only in individuals but in the community as a whole.

This is leadership that doesn’t just talk about possibilities—it acts. By bringing GED education into the detention center, the Sheriff’s Office is delivering on its commitment to rehabilitation while keeping the community safer in the long term.

A Holistic Approach to Justice

The GED program is woven into the Surry Transition Project (STP), which focuses on treatment, recovery, education, and reentry support. Director Jamie Edwards of SCOSAR described it best: this is not just an educational program, it’s a declaration that justice can be both firm and compassionate.

When detainees leave the detention center with education, recovery support, and a renewed sense of purpose, they are far more likely to succeed—and far less likely to return. That’s good for families, for public safety, and for the future of Surry County.

A Model for Promises Kept

Dr. David Shockley, President of SCC, praised the collaboration and affirmed the college’s role in ensuring quality instruction. This partnership demonstrates what happens when public safety, education, and recovery services stand shoulder-to-shoulder.

Together, these agencies are proving that promises—when backed by collaboration and determination—create real results. This program is more than a pilot; it’s a model for how Surry County approaches justice and recovery: with fairness, accountability, and hope.