elected sheriff lee baca and l.a.training course for inmates inside the l.a. county jail. the course was originally designed to reduce the racially motivated violence that was occurring daily within the walls of the jail. >> we needed to take that environment and make it a productive one where people can reflect on their problems and get involved in the programs and leave the jail better than they were when they came in. >> the program is called amer-i-can. it is a 60-hour program that takes 42 days to complete. amer-i-can accepts any inmate regardless of their arrest charge and past criminal history. >> it's important because it teaches an individual to take control of their own lives. it gives them life skills, fundamentals, that allows them to understand how to succeed. a lot of people don't receive those from their parents. what you need is conscientious effort placed on education. education of all kinds. an investment in that, a real investment, you're going to always need strong, fair, just law enforcement. so w