Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction QStP Team Projects - Community Service Projects

REDUCE IDLENESS TIME SPENT (RITS TEAM)

Madison Correctional Institution (1999)

The RITS Team assumed the task of reducing inmate idleness during the workday. RITS surveyed the population to estimate the average numbers of inmates idled in housing during morning and afternoon hours. They found that inmate idleness peaked during the afternoon. The team then contacted the local community services organization "Crayons to Computers," which provided materials for inmates to produce teaching aides for low-income schools. As a result over 264 hours of community service were produced from three test dorms and inmates produced two wall maps, over three dozen notebooks, and two dozen school boxes to be distributed to low-income schools. Raymond Jenkins, Leader 740-852-9777.

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SERVING COMMUNITY INTEREST (SCI TEAM)

Southeastern Correctional Institution (1999)

In 1998, the Southeastern Correctional Institution generated 241,171 hours of community service, of which in-house inmates completed 25,573 hours. However, out of 19 in-house community service contacts, only six were from Fairfield County, where Southeastern Correctional Institution is located. The team developed a community service outreach program that significantly increased their local community contacts and consequently the community’s awareness of the Institution’s community-service abilities. As a result, local community contacts increased from six to 35. This increase has the potential of creating more projects, which in turn could decrease inmate idleness and generate more community service hours. Leann Schmelzer, Leader 740-653-4324.

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FLASH CARDS

Correctional Reception Center (1999)

At any given time, an average of 1,900 reception inmates await transfer from the Correctional Reception Center to their parent institutions. These inmates are either idle or producing a minimal amount of community service hours. Many of these men are available to produce educational materials for the local public schools. FLASHCARDS (Felons Learning About Hardships by Contributing Arithmetic and Reading Development Skills) believed that an earlier goal of 1,500 community service hours for these men was underestimated. They found reception inmates so eager to become involved that they could raise the bar to 1,000 community service hours per month per housing unit. This was based on an average of 15 reception inmates contributing to the project.

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CRIME (COMMUNITY REIMBURSEMENT IS MY EMPLOYMENT)

Allen Correctional Institution (1999)

The CRIME Team was assembled to address the issue of community service for higher education students. They were tasked with increasing the number of service projects, therein fulfilling hours of community service required for students. Members solicited non-profit community organizations for projects, then facilitated and supervised the projects in their respective areas. This resulted in a substantial increase in community service projects completed, thus greatly increasing the number of hours performed by higher education students.

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GREEN PAY BACKERS

Ohio Reformatory for Women (1998)

The team’s focus was to study existing ORW community service hours benefiting the community, offender and victim. The Backers implemented victim awareness classes for the offender, incorporating victim impact panels and a safe room concept for staff. Diane Prettyman, Leader 937-642-1065.

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THE DISSEMINATORS TEAM

Columbus APA Region (1998)

The team was formed to familiarize regional staff with the organizations involved in the Combined Charitable Campaign. The Disseminators conducted an information fair which increased awareness and appreciation. Grace Naegele, Leader 614-752-0800.

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ORIENT JOBS TEAM

Orient Correctional Institution (1996)

The OJT team from OCI looked at the process for assigning inmates to work details. The number of inmates far exceeded the number of meaningful job assignments. The team began their work with a visioning exercise. Afterward, they used the tools of quality to develop a partnership with MRDD in which inmates made quilts for the clients of that agency. 5,314 hours of community service hours were completed during the team’s pilot project. By January 1997, 304 new inmate jobs will have been assigned with a substantial increase in community service hours. Ron Forrest, Leader 614-877-4367.