PCF celebrates more than 100 graduates

PUTNAMVILLE – More than 100 Putnamville Correctional Facility (PCF) offenders recently graduated from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship program at the institution.

The program is operated within the Indiana Department of Correction in collaboration with PEN Products, the PCF public/private business unit, and Aramark, who operates the food service contract with PCF.

Offenders, like the 130 graduating at Putnamville, have the option of being certified in programs such as Office Management, Recycle and Recovery, Housekeeping/Sanitation and Career Development.

In order to complete the programs, offenders are required to complete a minimum of 2,000 hours of classroom work as well as on-the-job training. Upon completion of the program offenders earn a certificate from the USDOL that is recognized by industries throughout the nation. This certificate and training gives them a leg up in their job search once released from prison.

The partnership between the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship and the Indiana Department of Correction has developed into the largest prison apprenticeship training program in the country today.

The program, now completing its 11th year, continues to show strong growth both in number of apprentices and apprentice graduates.

Registered Apprenticeship programs meet the skilled workforce needs of Indiana’s businesses by training qualified individuals for lifelong careers. Skills such as traditional construction and manufacturing, as well as new emerging industries like information technology, energy, telecommunications and more are being learned inside Indiana’s prisons.