Post by Douglas S Garrison on Nov 23, 2009 16:06:42 GMT -5
Indiana Legislators Tour New Castle Correctional Facility
By Douglas S. Garrison Chief Communications Officer
Published: 11/23/2009
New Castle, Indiana (November 19, 2009) – Yesterday, four members of the Indiana General Assembly toured the New Castle Correctional Facility and learned about its programs, populations, and more.
State Representatives Nancy Michael, Gail Riecken, Tom Saunders, and Vern Tincher were welcomed by Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) Commissioner Edwin G. Buss, facility Superintendent Jeff Wrigley, facility Community Advisory Board members, and other IDOC staff. Superintendent Wrigley introduced the legislators to the company that runs the facility, The Geo Group, Inc., and gave them a grand tour of the facility.
Superintendent Wrigley and guest speakers explained the two main missions of the facility: mental health treatment and sex offender treatment. Both challenging populations have come to the facility this year, and Correctional Medical Services and Liberty Health Services work to provide the treatment for these offenders. The presentations also touched on misconceptions about the mental health and sex offender populations.
Additionally, the legislators visited the Purposeful Living Units Serve (PLUS) program, which is the faith and character-based dorm, and heard testimony from PLUS offenders on how meaningful the program is for them to prepare for re-entry. The group also saw educational classes in action, toured the recreational building, and ate a lunch prepared by Culinary Arts students.
Commissioner Buss (second from left) discusses the steps the IDOC is taking to make offenders healthier, including encouraging exercise and a new, reduced sodium diet. Representative Nancy Michael (second from right) and Pendleton Correctional Facility Superintendent Alan Finnan (far right) look on.
Commissioner Buss told the legislators and other visitors, “New Castle Correctional Facility is a facility that shows how meaningful partnerships are to the IDOC. The Geo Group, Inc., Correctional Medical Services, Liberty Heath Services, and others all provide services at this facility which houses two of the most challenging correctional populations: mental health offenders and sex offenders.”
Commissioner Buss went on to thank the legislators for their willingness to visit the prison and learn more about the services offered. “The more we can educate people about our facilities, the better off we all will be as we formulate policy.”
New Castle Mayor Jim Small leads the group as they walk between housing units at New Castle Correctional Facility.
Additionally, New Castle Mayor Jim Small and Representative Tom Saunders, whose district includes New Castle, both spoke highly of the facility and the IDOC. Specifically, they complemented the amount of community service New Castle’s minimum security offenders do in the area.
By Douglas S. Garrison Chief Communications Officer
Published: 11/23/2009
New Castle, Indiana (November 19, 2009) – Yesterday, four members of the Indiana General Assembly toured the New Castle Correctional Facility and learned about its programs, populations, and more.
State Representatives Nancy Michael, Gail Riecken, Tom Saunders, and Vern Tincher were welcomed by Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) Commissioner Edwin G. Buss, facility Superintendent Jeff Wrigley, facility Community Advisory Board members, and other IDOC staff. Superintendent Wrigley introduced the legislators to the company that runs the facility, The Geo Group, Inc., and gave them a grand tour of the facility.
Superintendent Wrigley and guest speakers explained the two main missions of the facility: mental health treatment and sex offender treatment. Both challenging populations have come to the facility this year, and Correctional Medical Services and Liberty Health Services work to provide the treatment for these offenders. The presentations also touched on misconceptions about the mental health and sex offender populations.
Additionally, the legislators visited the Purposeful Living Units Serve (PLUS) program, which is the faith and character-based dorm, and heard testimony from PLUS offenders on how meaningful the program is for them to prepare for re-entry. The group also saw educational classes in action, toured the recreational building, and ate a lunch prepared by Culinary Arts students.
Commissioner Buss (second from left) discusses the steps the IDOC is taking to make offenders healthier, including encouraging exercise and a new, reduced sodium diet. Representative Nancy Michael (second from right) and Pendleton Correctional Facility Superintendent Alan Finnan (far right) look on.
Commissioner Buss told the legislators and other visitors, “New Castle Correctional Facility is a facility that shows how meaningful partnerships are to the IDOC. The Geo Group, Inc., Correctional Medical Services, Liberty Heath Services, and others all provide services at this facility which houses two of the most challenging correctional populations: mental health offenders and sex offenders.”
Commissioner Buss went on to thank the legislators for their willingness to visit the prison and learn more about the services offered. “The more we can educate people about our facilities, the better off we all will be as we formulate policy.”
New Castle Mayor Jim Small leads the group as they walk between housing units at New Castle Correctional Facility.
Additionally, New Castle Mayor Jim Small and Representative Tom Saunders, whose district includes New Castle, both spoke highly of the facility and the IDOC. Specifically, they complemented the amount of community service New Castle’s minimum security offenders do in the area.