A New Leash on Life

The concept of dogs in prison is not a new concept.  The program was started in 1981 by a Dominican Nun, Sister Pauline Quinn in Washington State with dogs trained by inmates for the disabled.  Since 1981 it has spread across the country from Washington  State to Florida.

“A New Leash on Life” was started in North Carolina in July 2004 thanks to the determination of Secretary Theodis Beck, North Carolina Dept of Correction.

Presently North Carolina has eight “A New Leash on Life” programs successfully operating in our state.  Programs are in Marion, Black Mountain, Vanceboro, Tillery, Elizabethtown, Mt. Pleasants, Spindale and our newest one in Guilford County in McLeansville.

“A NEW LEASH ON LIFE”

www.dogsbehindbars.com

a program of the SPCA of the Triad

www.triadspca.org

Is honored to work in partnership with

 the North Carolina Department of Correction

www.doc.state.nc.us

Raleigh, N. C.

 and

Guilford Correctional Prison

www.doc.state.nc.us/DOP/prisons/guilford.htm

McLeansville, N. C.

NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION-Raleigh, N. C.

www.doc.state.nc.us

Mission Statement:

The primary mission of the NC Dept of Correction is to protect the public from convicted criminals.  Correctional employees and volunteers are dedicated to helping offenders become productive members of society.  “A New Leash on Life” is one of the ways we endeavor to fulfill this Mission.

“A New Leash on Life” is a North Carolina State program that allows minimum and medium custody state prisons to partner with local animal shelters and animal welfare agencies to train dogs in preparation for their adoption.  It gives inmates an opportunity to serve communities by training dogs to be well-behaved pets.

NC Dept. of Correction Program Objectives for “A New Leash on Life” are:

• To teach inmates good work ethics

• To instill a sense of pride and accomplishment in inmates

• To instill civic consciousness and awareness of other people’s needs in the inmates

• To encourage working individually and as a group

• To instill confidence associated with newly acquired skills

GUILFORD CORRECTIONAL CENTER-McLeansville, N. C.

www.doc.state.nc.us/DOP/prisons/guilford.htm

Guilford Correction Center is the onsite training facility for “A New Leash on Life” in Guilford County.  This is a minimum security prison for adult males.  The prison serves as the processing center for the North Piedmont Areas.  Up to 120 beds are set aside for offenders entering prison.  The prison unit is on a five acre site on Camp Burton Road in a very rural setting. 

Guilford Correctional Center provides educational opportunity for the inmates by working with Guilford Technical Community College who provides classes for adult education and preparation for the GED tests.

At Guilford Correctional Center, inmates work in a number of jobs, such as road crews, contract work for local government agencies, maintenance or kitchen duties. 

Participation by inmates in “A New Leash on Life” is on a voluntary basis and is by request of the inmate.  Acceptance into the program is based on the inmate and his background meeting strict criteria regarding, physical ability, charges related to incarceration, no recent infractions, and referrals and approval by local and state level supervisory personnel.

Inmate Selection/Policy/Guidelines/Supervision

Policies and guidelines for “A New Leash on Life Program are set by the State of North Carolina Department of Correction in Raleigh, N. C.

Locally, the program is under the direct responsibility of

1)     the local prison unit Superintendent

2)     the local facility Primary Program Coordinator

3)     the local facility Secondary Program Coordinator

Dogs that are selected to participate in the program are placed with inmate trainers in a prison setting for eight weeks.  The inmates receive classroom and hands on training/instruction provided and monitored by volunteers who are certified trainers.

The inmates teach basic obedience, house training and socialization through positive reinforcement and repetition under the guidance of the certified trainer.  Dogs are taught to walk on and off the leash and to respond to basic commands.

The dogs go through an 8 week rotation and complete their basic obedience training with their inmate/trainers. 

Currently there are 3 dogs per rotation.

The three dogs who have completed their basic obedience training course will be awarded to their new loving families and leave for their permanent homes at a graduation ceremony.  The next 3 dogs will arrive at the prison on graduation day, and the rotation starts anew.  No “empty nest” for the inmates.”

Each prison facility partners with a local animal shelter, a local animal rescue organization, local animal trainers and with local merchants or civic organizations that can support the program with needed supplies and services.

Testimonials

The assistant superintendent at Black Mountain Correctional Center for Women writes “the impact of the dog program has been very beneficial to the population at Black Mountain Correctional Center for Women.  It has helped to de-stress the environment by the dogs just being here, a type of pet therapy. Prison staff and inmates interact in a more positive manner with each other because of the dog program.  The trainers are learning a marketable skill and it motivates them to engage with others in a more positive manner as well as motivates them in other programs they attend.

Program Benefits

A doctoral research study done on over 300 youth that participated in “Project Pooch” a program which was started by Joan Dalton and is a sister program to “A New Leash on Life”  showed a ZERO RECIDIVISM RATE for the youths and 105 dogs were placed in loving homes.  (Dr. Sandra Merriam-Anudrini, Doctoral Research. http.//www.deltasociety.org/ppart0106.htm)