Correctional facility welcomes new advisory board members

PUTNAMVILLE -- Putnamville Correctional Facility (PCF) Superintendent Stanley Knight welcomed new members Vigo County Court Judge Dr. Michael Rader and Editor Eric Bernsee and Assistant Editor Jared Jernagan of the Banner Graphic newspaper, during a recent Community Advisory Board meeting conducted at the prison.

Also in attendance were board members Mary Brown, director of Clay County Corrections; Putnam County Librarian Alice Greenburg; People Pathways Director Joy Marley; Dr. Robert Huckabee, retired Indiana State University professor; and Oakland City University Regional Director Ted Pearson.

The meeting opened with remarks from Superintendent Knight followed by budget and staffing updates and a briefing on physical plant upgrades.

Assistant Superintendents Tim Phegley and Beckie Bennett followed with overviews of facility operations and re-entry initiatives.

Lunch, prepared and served by PCF Culinary Art students, allowed offender James Shaffer of Kokomo, and Nakia McCullough of Anderson to hone restaurateur skills as they waited tables and served guests.

The culinary experience was followed by an education presentation by Barb Auman, director of Oakland City University.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Administrative Assistant Alisia Lawrence briefed attendees on the upcoming American Correctional Association (ACA) reaccreditation and gave the Association of State Correction Administrators (ASCA) report.

The meeting concluded with media highlights of Commissioner (and former PCF superintendent) Bruce Lemmon's recent recognition by ASCA for the IDOC achieving 100 percent completion (Blue status) of key indicators.