MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS) - At the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center, inmate Elijah Murphy is spending his final weeks behind bars doing something he hopes will change the course of his life. Murphy, a trusty at the jail, recently earned his forklift‑operator certification alongside three other inmates—training he believes will give him a real shot at steady work once he’s released.

“Knowledge is the best skill set,” Murphy said. “I can use it as a trade.”

Trusties are inmates serving time for non‑violent or less serious offenses who volunteer for work assignments inside the jail. Murphy, along with fellow trusties Charles Hall, Cody Whitaker and Joe Sain, completed a forklift and telehandler forklift safety course taught by Maintenance Lt. Devin Storie. The training included classroom instruction, a written exam, and hands‑on practice under the supervision of Maintenance Cpl. Andy Pugh. Both Storie and Pugh are certified instructors.

The men walked away with official certification to operate forklifts—credentials that can open doors in Middle Tennessee’s booming warehouse and manufacturing sectors. Pugh said that’s exactly the point. “They can use the skills to help them find a job in that field and hopefully better themselves,” he explained.

For Murphy, the training wasn’t entirely new. He’s operated forklifts before, but the certification gives him something concrete to show employers. He said he learned more about safety, center of gravity, and how to move oversized loads—knowledge he can take straight into the workforce.

And forklift training is just one piece of the Sheriff’s Office’s broader effort to prepare inmates for life after incarceration. While working as a trusty, Murphy has also learned how to build cabinets and desks and even picked up basic electrical wiring skills.

The goal, Rutherford County Sheriff's Office leaders say, is to shift the focus from punishment to preparation—helping people leave jail with confidence, a plan, and a marketable skill that can change their trajectory.