Country Music Star Jelly Roll Inspires Jailhouse Music Studio in Flint, Michigan

A caged bird has sung his way to country music superstardom, and Jelly Roll is inspiring other inmates to follow his path.
Two million people are behind bars at any given time in the United States. It has the highest rate of incarceration. Nearly 600-thousand of those are inmates in jails like the Genesee County Jail.
"I think education is the answer. There's people that come in here with high school educations and have been lost for decades," said Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson.
Sheriff Chris Swanson is doing something different and changing the culture of incarceration. He started a nationally recognized educational initiative in his jail called IGNITE. It's an acronym for "Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education."
Daily, educators come into the jail offering classes from welding, foreign language, literacy and general studies to help inmates obtain a GED or high school diploma. Any inmate can participate in IGNITE.
Jelly Roll was so inspired by the initiative that he came to see it first hand in December of 2023. While getting his hair trimmed by an IGNITE student in the barber program, Jelly Roll told Swanson that it was missing music.
Swanson took Jelly Roll's words to heart and introduced music to the IGNITE program by collaborating with the Flint Institute of Music.
"Music therapy is how we started with IGNITE , designed specifically with individuals who go through trauma," said FIM President Rodney Lontine.
Lontine knows the transformative power of music and its ability to break down socio economic and cultural barriers. The FIM president oversees several community outreach programs which now includes educating inmates.
Most recently, adding a state of the art music studio to the curriculum.
"It's not like people are coming in here and playing around and singing, you're actually learning skills, production, how to lay tracks, audio engineering, software," said IGNITE student Calvin Clark.
Clark has been a resident in the Genesee County Jail for 42 months. He's there on a slew of charges including assault with intent to murder. He's hoping that if and when he gets another chance, he can take what he's learned on the inside to record a new track for his life on the outside.
UAW Region 1-D Director Steve Dawes is putting the power of the United Auto Workers behind the power of IGNITE. The UAW financed the music studio.
"Somebody's gotta give these people hope, not necessarily bad people, not everyone in jail is bad people, they just made bad mistakes," said Dawes.
Dawes said the recidivism rate is down in Genesee County since Sheriff Swanson started IGNITE in 2020. He says the imitative makes economic sense as returning inmates cost taxpayers more money.
Swanson believes a hit song will be produced inside the Genesee County Jail. He plans to continue expanding IGNITE to offer more educational opportunities to inmates.
Harvard University conducted a long-term study on IGNITE that yielded a result proving it lowered recidivism and violence inside the jail. The National Sheriff's Association is now using Swanson's IGNITE as a playbook encouraging other jails across the country to start their own program. So far, it's being used as a model in more than a dozen states.
"If we can give them a path so they never return to violence and there's no more victims, then everybody wins. Whether it's music or welding or financial literacy or speaking French, I am willing to do whatever it takes," said Swanson.
You can learn more about IGNITE by visiting: www.gcsomichig...

[@nelljarrels5604]

Jelly Roll, keep shinning and spreading Gods love.

[@Rustles]

So awesome. Sheriff Swanson IS the change you want to see. ✌️❤️🇺🇸🎶

[@judinemulerski315]

Sheriff Swanson is amazing. I thank him for caring about these men. He CARES an doing something about. Thank you Jelly Roll

[@art3mis290]

4 fellas from the county jail performed with Jelly Roll live sheriff is awesome!

[@josephbearup4787]

Sheriff Swanson Is the Sheriff Every County Needs! Grew up 20mins from Flint and That City is the Definition of Grit . Decimated by the Loss Of Buick and The Closing of A lot of the GM plants , the Water they still can’t Drink, Flints a Held back city with So much Talent just waiting to be Discovered

[@ms.mojo_risin]

BRiLLiANTBeautifuLPeoples!!

[@sandracarter7601]

I wanna thank Jelly Roll for the love that he is spreading everywhere because it’s helping all of us. Thank you, Jelly Roll.🎹🎸🎼🎵🎶🥁🎬🎻🙏🎤♥️🥰 he’s getting people sober and he is helping so many he’s helped me and I just wanna say thank you. His music has helped me so much.❤️🎹🎸💙🎼🎵🥁🎶🎬🎻🙏🎤♥️🥰

[@richtirado5762]

Jelly is changing the world and I don't think he even realizes it. Thank you brother!!!

[@Sunshine-do3yv]

This is ABSOLUTELY the way to go🎼🎼🎼🎵🎵🎵🎶🫂 Right friggin on!!!! So , so important!!!!!👏👏🌠🌠🌠

[@jaymzgaetz2006]

Never underestimate the power of music.

[@TanyaMcMillan-x1w]

Its awesome what Jelly Roll and the Sheriff are doing. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@CJCrupe]

Sheriff watson thank you for doing this this me Odyssey and jelly roll god bless America and us American ppl getting sober and amen

[@pennysmovingart5478]

That's so awesome!! What a happy place!! Love to see all this Jelly Roll! Love your songs and love your honest talks and your songs! This is awesome to help you for Recovery! I am in Recovery and so glad to know you! Everyone at this place is getting things done! God Bless You All!!

[@sandracarter7601]

And I wanna say thank you to the sheriff because that’s helping Americans be safe or out there when they do leave the jails and I just really really think Jelly Roll and the sheriff thank you both so very much. You both be in my prayers every day.🥰🥁🎵🎼🎻♥️🎸🎬🎤🎹🎶🙏💙❤️♥️🥰 thank you with lots of love coming from my heart to yours

[@maryCCFarm]

God Bless them all for making a change in them.Thank you.

[@bungalowmo]

Great program!!! Anything to help these guys before they’re released is just what they need. Rehabilitation. That is key! 👏♥️🎶🎼🎵🎤

[@Darci3333]

Great music can touch the heart and soul when sometimes nothing or no one else can ❤❤❤❤❤

[@lindajenkins9861]

As a Flint native that grew up during boom times it's always nice to see positive, encouraging stories about Flint and David yours are the best. Keep up the great work 🤩

[@michellefields2115]

Wonderful program this is so needed god bless

[@LacyRakastanTTV]

This is fantastic! I love Sheriff Swanson and Jellyroll! Everyone needs to strive to be that kind and caring.

[@michellefields2115]

Music has power!!❤

[@cindyarmstrong6535]

Awesome program thanks for sharing

[@bend8353]

Decent Sherriff. After seeing this and the Chris hansen specials he does seem to love the spotlight, but at least he is making a difference

[@lushoutdoors7037]

Great job David! This story is so inspiring and gives a positive perspective on the Gen. Co. Jail.

[@mselle66]

Amazing Maybe we will find some great musical treasures there

[@krisberkobien]

This is awesome! Thanks for bringing this story to us.

[@The.Original.Potatocakes]

Michigan! Fuck yea!

[@nickroberts4810]

Need more of this straight facts 💯 true facts 💯.

[@jeremyhurd3500]

Yeah you got to support your local sheriff s office

[@BuckBradshaw-vq5ot]

There's all kinds of room for beautiful growth and life altering use of available time and souls that God expects us to utilize for redemption and revival! Time is precious! Waste not want not.

[@ultimatesunrise]

Sooo, go to prison to get access to a full professional studio and conections.. got it, here we go MOMMA!!!

[@michelemiller1764]

This is exciting!!!

[@jeremyhurd3500]

Thats awesome

[@The.Original.Potatocakes]

MR. Said he was laying down the tracks.

[@ssmit397]

Y Jelly Roll and Sheriff Chris Swanson 🎉

[@ssmit397]

TY

[@cindycunningham3518]

Wouldn't Johnny Cash be happy to see this!

[@seethelight1417.]

this has been tried across the spectrum....It has to do with PARENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@OrissaTucker-g3n]

She got out of jail she said a rapper stole her beat and her dance what jail Richmond Virginia jail 🎤😌🏃😲I told her I will tell for her trouble the jail fix her teeth 😌🏃😲😂🤣

[@josephbeach6046]

Please stop putting false information out, jelly roll is a failed rapper not a country singer. George Strait George Jones and Alan jackson are country music singers.

[@R.D.S.Productions]

What are you doing for others with whatever platform you have? 😂

[@josephbeach6046]

@R.D.S.Productions I don't have a platform I have a job like a man is supposed to have. I'm not out there pretending to be something that I'm not for attention and money. Thank you for your immature comment have a good day bye