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| Corrections Opens Faith- and Character- Based Dorm |
| By South Carolina Department of Corrections |
| Published: 01/27/2010 |
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Goal is to create peaceful environment and prepare inmates for return to society; Volunteers key to program’s success McCormick, S.C. (Jan. 21, 2010) – A faith- and character-based dormitory for inmates committed to positive behavior and self-improvement opened this week at McCormick Correctional Institution. The dormitory is the first of its kind in a maximum-security prison in South Carolina. Inmates in the program are being provided classes and activities that focus on personal responsibility, life skills, anger resolution, addictions treatment and parenting, in addition to classes on specific aspects of faith and positive character traits. Participants also are encouraged to participate in GED education, vocational training and works skills assessment. The project aims to improve inmates’ chances of success upon release from prison and creates a safer environment while they are incarcerated. The Corrections Department continues to provide security and basic needs to inmates, but volunteers are providing classes throughout the day. “There are a lot of men in prison who want to turn their lives around and who already have demonstrated that through positive behavior,” Corrections Director Jon Ozmint said. “Bringing inmates like this together in one place creates a more peaceful environment for them and our staff. We’ve seen this model work elsewhere, and we look forward to spreading it here.” Right now, there are 110 inmates in the program who occupy half of one 256-bed dormitory at McCormick. As inmate applications increase, Corrections hopes over time to grow the program at McCormick, eventually turning it into a faith- and character-based institution. The facility houses about 1,250 inmates. Inmate participation is voluntary, and acceptance is based on inmates’ disciplinary histories and sentence length. Inmates must have between 18- months and 7-years left to serve, or be serving a life sentence. A few inmates with life sentences, who are committed to positive behavior and meet disciplinary requirements, will be allowed to participate in order to provide the program with continuity. #### |
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