What Programs Are Available at Sussex Correctional Institution? Education, Work, and the Road to Recovery (R2R)
Wondering what your loved one can actually do at Sussex Correctional Institution (SCI) besides serve their time? The facility offers programs in a few clear categories: education, job skills, work assignments, faith-based opportunities, and treatment.
Sussex Correctional Institution offers several program areas designed to support rehabilitation. Educational programming helps people build foundational skills and work toward personal goals while they're inside. Vocational training focuses on practical job skills - the kind that translate to employment after release. The facility also offers work assignments: structured jobs within the institution that add routine and responsibility to daily life. For those who want it, SCI provides spiritual and religious opportunities. Beyond these main categories, the facility runs various other classes and programming, which may include additional groups or courses depending on what's available at any given time.
Note: When SCI mentions "other classes and programming," there may be additional options beyond the main categories - they just don't list every class in one place.
Sussex Correctional Institution also runs the Road to Recovery (R2R) treatment program. If substance use or recovery is part of your loved one's story, this is the program to ask about.
R2R is built on the Therapeutic Community model - a structured treatment approach, not just occasional classes. The facility describes this model as an industry best practice with proven effectiveness. That's why R2R gets highlighted alongside education, work, and vocational options.
Tip: If your loved one mentions "Therapeutic Community," they're likely talking about the treatment model used in Sussex CI's Road to Recovery program.
Programs shape what incarceration looks like day to day. Education and vocational training give someone a concrete focus and skills they can carry forward. Work assignments add structure and routine - things that are hard to hold onto in a stressful environment. Treatment programs like R2R matter just as much for reentry planning, especially when substance use has played a role in someone's past. Even if you can't enroll your loved one yourself, knowing what Sussex CI offers helps you have clearer conversations about goals, progress, and what support they'll need after release.
Also worth asking about: SCI offers spiritual and religious opportunities plus other classes that can provide routine, connection, and coping support.
For the details families usually need - what's currently running, who qualifies, how sign-ups work - start with official Sussex Correctional Institution information from the Delaware Department of Correction. Then have your loved one ask unit staff or their counselor about current availability. Offerings and access can depend on individual circumstances and facility operations.
- ✓ Check the official Sussex Correctional Institution page for the program categories the facility lists
- ✓ Ask your loved one to request current program lists, schedules, and eligibility requirements from unit staff
- ✓ Have them confirm how to apply or get placed on a waitlist (if one exists) for education, vocational training, work assignments, or R2R
- ✓ If you’re supporting reentry planning, encourage them to keep track of completed classes/programs for their records
Find an Inmate at Sussex Corrections Facility
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
