Inmate credits classes for new attitude

CANTON — Samuel J. Lanphear III said he was an angry teenager involved with drugs when he landed in St. Lawrence County jail last February.

The 19-year-old expects to be jailed until August for crimes including vandalizing a Massena church, beating another inmate and setting two buildings on fire.

Before his jail stint, Mr. Lanphear was kicked out of Massena Central High School for fighting and his life continued to spiral downward.

Today, the teen says he's a changed person, thanks in part to classes he attended at the county jail, including an anger management course and academic courses.

"When I have a problem with another inmate, instead of instantly wanting to fight, I think twice," Mr. Lanphear said Wednesday during an interview at the jail. "I usually end up walking away and coming back later to talk to the guy."

He blames family and girlfriend problems, substance abuse and immaturity for his past scuffles with the law.

In August, Mr. Lanphear, of 1875 Route 420, Massena, was convicted of third-degree criminal mischief for spray painting St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Massena, in July 2008.

He also was convicted of second-degree assault for putting a bar of soap in a sock and beating Mitchell Calkins on March 11 at the county jail.

Last month, Mr. Lanphear admitted in Franklin County Court, Malone, that he set a Nov. 8, 2008, fire in a garage in the town of Bombay. He still faces a third-degree arson charge in St. Lawrence County for allegedly starting a house fire the same day at 116 Gladding Road, town of Norfolk.

"I got in trouble and dug my own hole," he said. "When I first came in here I was still a minor and I had a bad attitude with the corrections officers."

After turning 19 on May 24, Mr. Lanphear said, he was moved to the adult block in the new jail facility that opened May 7.

"My attitude changed toward the corrections officers. When I'm around older people, I behave better," he said. "Before, I wasn't acting my age. I was doing things to get in trouble."

Mr. Lanphear's self-assessment is shared by corrections officers, who said they've witnessed the young man's attitude change from combative to cooperative during the nine months he's been incarcerated.

Three days a week, he volunteers to work in the jail kitchen, where he prepares trays, washes dishes and helps with cleaning and other odd jobs.

"I earn four coffees a day for working," Mr. Lanphear said.

Last week, he was among six inmates at the county jail who learned they passed the required exam to earn a General Educational Development diploma.

Natalie L. Hartle, a corrections officer assigned to coordinate inmate programs, said the new jail provides a better learning environment than the old facility.

"We've only been here since May and we've already had six inmates earn their GED. That's a huge accolade for the facility," Ms. Hartle said. "It's the way the building is designed; it's more conducive to getting inmates involved."

Inmates who don't have a high school diploma are encouraged, but not required, to take GED classes with an instructor from the St. Lawrence-Lewis Board of Cooperative Educational Services who teaches weekdays at the jail. Mr. Lanphear said passing the GED exam was a huge step toward putting him in the right direction once he's out of jail.

"I'll be able to go back to work for a while and hopefully save money for college," he said. "I'd like to be an architect."

Margaret Harney, another corrections officer, points to Mr. Lanphear as an example of how it's possible for inmates to better their lives by participating in classes and other structured activities.

"He has matured and he is really trying to stay out of trouble," Ms. Harney said. "The hope is that he will stay in the right direction when he gets out."