Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Jacobs-Meadows.
Hi Susan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I came to know the inner workings of Fulton County Jail when a family member, who struggled with substance abuse, was there multiple times. Being a “nice white lady from the suburbs”, I had no idea what a special kind of hell it was, or much about the myriad of issues that land someone there. I knew then that there were changes that needed to happen – and I needed to be a part of that change.
I have loved dogs since I could crawl, and had a boxer named Julie at my side. I believe that dogs are magical beings that have the ability to bring about positive change in humans, more than perhaps any other animal. I had heard about programs that involved incarcerated persons and dogs, and read a little about them, out of curious interest.
Then I had someone who worked at the jail, that I had come to know, ask me for a favor, and I responded “sure – I can help. But I’d like to ask you a favor in return”. I was as shocked by that question as he was, I think. Clearly the idea had been incubating in my brain for a minute, but I had never had the conscious thought until it came out of my mouth.
12 1/2 years ago in January, I sat across the conference room table with the Fulton County Jail command staff, and pitched this idea of a jail dogs program, centered around positive change for incarcerated men. They looked at me like I had three heads, and in that moment, I wasn’t convinced that I didn’t. We have since graduated 29 cycles of men and dogs inside those walls. Some of my most favorite humans I met behind the wire at Fulton County Jail.
In 2021, we started a second program — an out of custody program — unlike any other in the country. We continue to work with repeat felony offenders, and for this program, we work directly with the district attorney’s office and the court system. We get them out of jail, keep them from going to prison, and help to facilitate positive change over the year that they are with us. We have successfully graduated four classes from this year-long program, and we currently have two classes in progress, each at different stages of the program.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Running programs like these, whether inside or outside the walls of Fulton County Jail, is far from smooth. Inside the jail, we encountered significant opposition in the beginning years, because the program was radically different from the established culture of this troubled facility. Initially, we faced suspicion, doubt, and even outright hostility. However, over time, the sheriff and the chief jailer began to believe in our mission and enthusiastically supported our work.
The out-of-custody program presented its own set of challenges. Coordinating with various legal entities to have these men’s charges resolved and secure their release from jail is no easy task. Surprisingly, working with men out of custody proved to be even more difficult than working with those in custody. Once released, the men face numerous obstacles in the outside world, dealing with everyday stressors and challenges while meeting the obligations of the court-mandated program. Balancing positive reinforcement with accountability, without resorting to punitive measures, is a difficult path to navigate for everyone involved.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Canine CellMates is rehabilitative program involving incarcerated and previously incarcerated men, and rescue dogs. While there are programs that involve incarcerated persons and dogs across the country, we are different, because while dogs are the heart — and the magic — of our program, our focus is on the men, and their positive change.
I am proud of the fact that when COVID shut down the whole world, we didn’t fold, and give up. We went back to the drawing table and created a new an innovative program that gets men out of jail, instead of going to prison, and applies the same principles as our in-custody program. Utilizing the magical healing power of dogs, along with the power of positive reinforcement, we work with these men to help them change their path, and realize their potential as humans. Our love for these men, and our commitment to them and their process, sets us apart from other programs.
What does success mean to you?
Success is conceiving of, dreaming of, and implementing something from nothingness into something that is positive and meaningful. Success is also staying true to that dream, and pushing forward, even when it’s hard – really hard – because you believe in it – and everyone involved in it. Success is also continuing to believe in yourself, even when you are full of doubts about your own strengths, and your own abilities to play a part in positive change in others.
Contact Info:
- Website: caninecellmates.org
- Instagram: @caninecellmates
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CanineCellMates/
Image Credits
Blair Devereaux, Pheauxtography Kelly Kline Photography
