Just watching National Geographic channel. This prison is allowing inmates to work with dogs that are facing sad or no futures. Dogs from shelters are trained by the prisoners for service work. Seems like a very positive thing for prisoner and dog.

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Sterling Correctional Facility dog trainers honored for their efforts

K-9 Companion Program teaches responsibility, life skills
Adrianne Carter, Journal-Advocate staff writer
Posted: 02/19/2011 07:37:57 AM MST

John Cook, a member of the K-9 Companion Program unit at Sterling Correctional Facility shares letters from owners of program trained dogs and honors the staff who the program possible. Debi Stevens - standing on left - is the supervisor and founder of the Colorado Corrections Industry Prision K-9 Companion Program. (Adrainne Carter/Journal-Advocate)
STERLING —  Inmate dog trainers at Sterling Correctional Facility were honored in a graduation ceremony Friday morning.  Some of the men were new to the program, while some were seasoned veterans.  All were honored for their efforts and commitment to the program.
    The Colorado Correctional Industries Prison Trained K-9 Companion Program was first estab-lished in 2002 by supervisor and founder Debi Stevens.  It began with five dogs at the women's facility in Canyon City and has now been implemented in nine Department of Corrections facilities around the state.  The program has been at SCF since 2005.
    The program's mandate is to put inmates to work, teach them a valuable vocation that can be used in the outside world.  Because the program is not funded by taxes, they must also generate the income to pay for the program itself through adoption fees.
    Since its creation in 2002 the K-9 Companion Program has rescued more than 3,000 dogs and trained another 3,000 through the boarding program.  The program is not only a benefit to the dogs that it rescues but to the inmates that train them as well.  The offenders are taught life skills, work ethics and are provided with valuable vocational training.  They are also given the responsibility of caring for another life.
    “The hope is to reintegrate these men into society without doing what they did before,” says Stevens of the program.  “ I am very, very proud of the accomplishments of the gentleman on this team.”
    During the graduation ceremony, 14 of the men in the program were honored for their efforts.  The program has three levels: the apprenticeship level, the intermediate level and the master's level.  
    Reaching the highest level of Master Trainer is not a simple enterprise.  They must first spend 4,000 hours in reasonably continuous employment and on the job training.  This includes 288 hours of education on everything from dietary and grooming needs to specific breed characteristics.   The master's candidates must also complete a thesis before receiving their Master Trainer certificate.
    John Chapdelaine, associate warden, spoke to the men about the appreciation the dog owners have for them. “Your efforts are greatly appreciated.  They love their dogs and can tell that you love their dogs while you are with them,” he said.
    Vicki Scheck, who started the apprenticeship program, spoke about the importance of the edu-cation the men receive and the amount of time the men spend learning and working with their dogs.
    Darlene McInnes, who is in charge of the men's education, noted that the trainers are extremely dedicated, spending day and night with the dogs.
    “They work 24-7.  If a dog is sick they are up in the middle of the night with that dog,” said McInnes. 
    The program concluded with a speech from John Cook, one of the inmate trainers.  Cook has been in the program for three years.  He has trained more than 30 dogs and is currently working on his master's certificate.  He offered some personal stories and letters from program-trained dog owners as well as presented certificates of thanks to the program staff members and support team.
    The event concluded in celebratory refreshments provided by the SCF culinary arts program.

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