Prison Rehabilitation Program

You hear about the crime, and the trial that puts them behind bars but you dont often hear what happens to the men and women after theyve served their time. We have an inside look at some men serving time in a Tri-State prison. But these arent your average offenders. Theyre men involved in a special program helping to rehabilitate the offenders. Its called PLUS - short for Purposeful Living Units Serve. The program launched at branchville correctional facility almost two years ago. The hope was to offer structure and discipline to men who never had it. Gerry VanPatten has a passion for feeding worms. "The number one rule is dont fall in love with your worms." He works at the largest worm farm in Indiana. The castings created are great for the organic gardens outside. But here if you arent interested in agriculture you can find something else to occupy your time. You can rehabilitate race dogs like Randall Scott loves to do or find a craft project like these crosses. Theyre for a memorial for soldiers from Perry county who have died in combat. This may seem like a lot going on but for men behind this fence and barbed wire its a great way to escape. "Keeps me out of trouble keeps me motivated keeps me positive," says VanPatten. They are the community service part of the PLUS program at Branchville Correctional Facility. Its a faith and character based program offered for about 100 offenders. "Everything I get them invovled in I get them involved, says Superintendent Gil Peters. Along with the projects they must stay on good behavior and complete a curriculum that teaches them everything from life skills to learning how to take responsbility for their crimes. "The guys in the PLUS dorm tend to hold themselves to a higher standard." Theres a revolving door for prisoners in Indiana. Superintendent Gil Peters says in the state more than a third of the offenders come back. At Branchville its 32 percent. With this program they hope to bring that down to 20 percent. "Most people who are incarcerated only think of themselves." Thats what they hope to change. "Im really starting to think before I act on a lot of issues," says VanPatten. Theres no real measure yet on the impact of the program. Though the men say theres a difference. "I just know im going to make it this time." It takes about 19 months to get through the program. The first men who started with the program when it began in 2005 are about to graduate and many of those are only months away from walking free. When they happens they plan to use everything theyve learned - like vanpatten who wants to use everything hes learned from worms to find a job in agriculture. That graduation takes place tomorrow. We will be there and talk with inmates whove made it through and their families who are joining them for their graduation day. Some of their programs need your help. Theyre looking for someone to help transport those crosses to each site for display. If you can help youre ask to contact the Tell City VFW or send a check to Richard Northerner or Al Newton for the Avnue of Flags Project: Veterans of Foreign Wars, 301 Main Street Tell City, IN 47586