SOUTH SALT LAKE — It's a place where never in a million years did John Chris Kirch ever think he'd end up.
The unassuming looking Kirch is a well-educated investment banker whose past clients have included a big hotel chain and other start-up companies. A description of him in one company report in 1999 said, "Mr. Kirch specializes in arranging private placement funding, preparing and placing public offerings, while developing multi-media news, advertising and marketing support."
But some bad decisions in his personal life in 2009 with a former girlfriend resulted in convictions in 3rd District Court for stalking, burglary and aggravated assault. He received a suspended prison sentence but was ordered to serve a year in the Salt Lake County Jail.
Kirch described his first night in jail in January as a "horrific hell." His view was that "we are trash and treated like trash. I thought (jail) was a garbage dump for trash."
On Thursday, standing with 22 of his fellow inmates — and sticking out among the other prisoners, many of whom were heavily tattooed — Kirch had a much different attitude.
"It's been the ultimate life-changing experience," he said. "It's been absolutely phenomenal. I'll never forget it."
Although going to jail itself wasn't phenomenal, Kirch had nothing but high praise for the Correctional Addiction Treatment Services and Life Skills programs taught at the Adult Detention Facility and the Oxbow Jail. Both programs are designed to help prisoners become productive members of society when they are released.
Thursday, 23 inmates graduated from the Life Skills program.
"They all have a common goal — they want to be better people, they want to improve," said sheriff's deputy and program officer Stan Moleni.
Now in its third year, Life Skills is an intensive 150 hour program over the course of 28 days, with inmates attending class from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. everyday. As one corrections officer put it, it's the first time in a long time that many of the inmates have gotten up early to attend an eight-hour class or job.
Prisoners have to apply to be in the program, and even those who are accepted don't always make it to the end. Those who do, however, generally have a life-changing experience.
"I'm familiar with the principal's office, but from this point on I hope not to see you there again," inmate Jason Purvis, 30, told sheriff's officials during Thursday's graduation ceremony. "This has been a unique experience for me. I swallowed my pride and listened to the instructors. I laid down my arms and opened up my ears. When I'm finally released, it will be the first time I'm off paper since I was 13."
Purvis called the Life Skills program "valuable" and "important." His criminal record includes a history of domestic abuse and simple assault. Through the classes, he said he is now able to "bring it down a notch" and pay attention.
"When I go home to my family, I will be a productive member of society," he said.
Purvis also had a message to Sheriff Jim Winder and others who attended Thursday's graduation: "Don't give up on us."
Winder shook the hand of each inmate who was presented with a certificate of graduation and reminded them that while they are currently referred to as prisoners, " 'Prisoners' is a label. It's short term. It doesn't have to be long term."
In many cases, program officials said it's a matter of teaching inmates how not to be their own worst enemies.
"You hold the key within yourself to be successful," Moleni said.
Winder said the CATS and Life Skills program have an impact in the short term. Now that the Life Skills program has several years under its belt, he and others are anxious to see data on its long term effect. Anecdotally, Winder said he believes the programs are having a positive impact.
The classes teach stress management, employment skills, proper hygiene and stress and anger management.
One of the most popular classes is called the "Heroes Class," designed to give self-empowerment to prisoners and help them realize that for all the heroes they look up to, they too are also heroes and can be heroes to themselves.
Kirch enrolled and was accepted to both programs while serving his time, although he admits he didn't think at first there was anything he could learn from those classes.
"It's been a major answer to my prayers to be selected to be here," he said. "The experience and lessons have been phenomenal."
One lesson even focused on Socrates and another on Social Contract Theory.
"Who thought I would go to jail to learn about Socrates?" he asked.
Kirch is scheduled to be released early on good behavior in about two weeks.
Of the 23 recent graduates, eight were working to get a high school diploma or GED and two had already succeeded.
But as the jail administrators cautioned the group, Life Skills is only the first step. Some inmates need to continue with other classes, and then put those life skills into use.
"It doesn't matter what you learn, it's what you remember," Kirch said while often fighting back tears. "We can continue to make our lives miserable or step up and live up to the principles we learned. This was a great thrill to find. It's not really a garbage dump, it's a gold mine. We have a choice to rebuild our broken lives. It's something we'll never forget."
e-mail: preavy@desnews.com