VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Behind the steel bars of the Volusia County Correctional Facility, the familiar buzz of clippers is now a symbol of transformation.
A new barber training program launched earlier this month is giving inmates a fresh cut and a fresh start.
The initiative is part of a first-of-its-kind partnership between Volusia County and Daytona State College. It provides incarcerated individuals with hands-on training and technical instruction in barbering, with the ultimate goal of preparing them to pass Florida’s state licensure exam.
“I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time,” said Joseph, one of the program’s participants. “It’s amazing. My family is speaking to me more, and it’s opening so many more doors. I actually have a chance to do something else.”
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The program includes instruction from a licensed barber who knows firsthand the challenges of rebuilding after incarceration.
Angelo, the program’s lead instructor, once stood on the other side of the jail door himself.
“Coming back here is like a full-circle moment,” Angelo said. “I tell these guys this right here is going to change their lives forever.”
Volusia County Council Vice Chair and District 2 Representative Matt Reinhart said the program is the realization of a long-held vision.
“I’m rewarded just by looking at this and saying, ‘This is what our vision was,’” Reinhart said. “I can only imagine what the inmates are feeling as a result of that.”
For many of the men, this is their first time in a structured educational setting in years. The program is as much about building self-worth as it is about skill.
“This is hard work and dedication,” Joseph said. “He’s teaching us how to be men of value. I appreciate all of it.”
Daytona State College is also helping participants prepare resumes and connect with job opportunities after release.
“We also have family. We have bills,” said Jace, another participant. “Somebody giving me this opportunity puts me at a higher standard. For companies thinking about hiring a felon, just remember — that might change our lives.”
Once licensed, inmates will be able to legally work in the cosmetology industry and even launch their own businesses.
“This is more than just a haircut,” Angelo said. “It’s about dignity, purpose, and a future.”
Jail leaders say the program is a key part of their broader commitment to rehabilitation over recidivism.