ISU class tours PCF operations

Monday, June 18, 2012
Indiana State University Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice class members touring the Putnamville Correctional Facility recently included (from left) Garrick Dikos, Joshua Keyt, ISU Associate Professor Shannon Barton-Bellessa, Riley Clerget, Jared Klug, Rachel Tetidrick, Dominique Cudjoe, Kelvin Burrell and Mohammad Alsultan.

PUTNAMVILLE -- Indiana State University Criminology and Criminal Justice students recently toured the Putnamville Correctional Facility (PCF).

On their last day of class for the 2011-12 school year, ISU Associate Professor Shannon Barton-Bellessa and students observed the facility's operations and interacted with offenders and staff. In doing so, they listened to program overviews and discussed the benefits of programming with offenders.

"This class has proven to be so beneficial to the students in making their decisions about whether they would like to pursue a career in corrections," Barton-Bellessa said.

The group spent the afternoon visiting the facility's prisoner dining area, Health Care Unit, Education Department, a housing unit and recreation areas.

The ISU visitors also observed various PCF programs in operation, such as the Clean Lifestyles is Freedom Forever (CLIFF), the Greyhound program and the Thoroughbred Retirement/Equine Management program.

"We strive to employ correctional professionals and hope that the students will choose professions in the field of corrections. Anything that we can do to promote that choice is a win situation for us," PCF Superintendent Stanley Knight commented.

The Putnamville Correctional Facility is a medium-security, adult male facility.

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