The country music star Jelly Roll was given a very special honor in Michigan this week that he was likely never expecting. Especially considering his record as a felon!
Jelly Roll Sworn In As Deputy
Over the weekend, Jelly Roll was sworn in by Sheriff Christopher Swanson as a deputy with the Community Cares Task Force in Genesee County, Michigan. Indeed, he was handed this honor in a viral video that was shared to Instagram by 99.5 WYCD.
“From convict to deputy,” Jelly Roll, 39, could be heard saying in the video. Watch:
This was a reference to Jelly Roll’s criminal history. He spent time in a juvenile correctional facility as a teen. He was convicted of a felony when he was arrested for aggravated robbery at age 16.
Jelly Roll served over a year in prison followed by seven years of probation. As a convicted felon, he lost the right to vote and own firearms. His journey from being a felon to a country music star has been inspiring to millions of fans.
“This is the real deal,” Sheriff Swanson stated. “You walk into any facility now, you can tell them you’re a Deputy Sheriff from Genesee County.”
“Now that’s second chances,” Swanson later added as he gave Jelly Roll his badge.
The honor was given to Jelly Roll at Michigan’s Genesee County Jail. The country music star had been there to cut the ribbon on the facility’s Jelly Roll Jailhouse Music Studio, which will be used by inmates.
Jelly Roll’s School Program for Inmates
Jelly Roll and Sheriff Swanson have actually worked together in the past. They joined forces with the I.G.N.I.T.E. Program to encourage inmates to pursue their GED while serving time. The goal of this is that the inmates increase their skill levels to help them get jobs when they’re released.
“I never thought I’d say it feels good to be back in jail, but it does feel good to be back in jail,” Jelly Roll joked as he accepted his badge.
“I believe people will pour pain into this room right here that they’ve been holding their entire life,” he added. “That they will let go of entire generational curses and trauma that has been keeping them down.”
Related: Jelly Roll Overcomes Felony History To Book First International Gig
Jelly Roll Gives Back
Since becoming a star, Jelly Roll has visited various jails and juvenile detention centers. He’s done this both for surprise performances and to “do a little encouraging.”
Last year, Jelly Roll told Audacy that he and his business partner Jerry Gift Jr. “only hire second-chance guys” who are felons to work on their Rolling With Jelly food truck.
“Every other place in the world is like, ‘If you got a felony, you can’t work here,'” Jelly Roll explained. “We’re only hiring felons. They run the food truck, and it comes out on tour with us some nights.”
Unlike most celebrities, Jelly Roll has never forgotten where he comes from. God bless him for continuing to use his platform to help others who have made mistakes turn their lives around.
In the end, Jelly Roll being given the honor of deputy is well deserved!
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