A DIFFERENT KIND OF PRISON

Completed construction at Lake City Correctional Facility has caused
growth in inmate population, staff and programming.

The prison's inmate population nearly tripled from approximately 350
inmates to 893, said Warden Fred Lawson.

The facility holds young inmates ages 19-24, called "youthful
offenders," who come from all over the state.

"With the construction and larger inmate population, we hired about 80
new employees, including 50 new correctional officers, and we paid for
the tuition and basic training for the majority of the officers,"
Lawson said. "With the increase of inmates comes a need for increased
officers, support staff, educational and vocational programs."

Kitchen equipment was also upgraded in order to produce 3,000 meals a
day instead of the 1,000 made before.

The medical department also expanded in order to care for the
increased number of inmates.

The LCCF is in the process of adding new programs to it existing
ones.

One is a multi-denominational, faith-based community in the dorms that
inmates can request to live in.

"We survey the inmate population and they can opt to be in, but it is
not mandatory," Lawson said.

A New Approach to Treatment

Currently LCCF officers and staff are receiving training for a new
program called Residential Drug Abuse Treatment Program (RDAP).

The new program is characterized by a state-of-the-art cognitive-
behavioral drug abuse treatment approach.

LCCF is the pilot institution for RDAP in the entire Corrections
Corporation of America system.

"This program is different from other treatment programs because it
focuses on community and working together rather than peers," Lawson
said. "We had to find something that is most effective for the age
levels we have here. What works for older inmates is different than
what works for younger inmates."

Jean Bellinger, manager of inmate programs, oversees training LCCF
staff in the new program.

"This was created and continues to be operated by the Federal Bureau
of Prisons," she said. "It is modeled after one of the most successful
treatment programs in the nation."

Bellinger calls it an individualized treatment program that takes nine
to 12 months.

The program utilizes "interactive journaling," in which each
participant receives seven personalized journals covering each of the
major areas of treatment.

The journals monitor inmate thinking and behavior throughout the
program.

All inmates in the RDAP program who lack a high school diploma or GED
are required to attend classes.

"This program addresses thinking patterns and then works to develop
skills," she said. "We can't change personality, but we can change
behavior. We need to fix these issues inside rather than outside,
because having this behavior outside lands them back in prison."

The inmates in the program will receive curriculum half of the day and
then work to apply skills while working or taking classes later in the
day.

"The key here is that this program stresses community," Bellinger
said. "Each inmate must do his part, emulating the world outside."

In addition, personal accountability, personal responsibility, honesty
and readiness to change are all points of RDAP.

Lawson hopes to launch the new program by the middle of
July.

Knowledge is Power

Grant money has allowed LCCF to offer vocational classes including
electrician and computer support courses.

All classes are paid for by the inmate or his family.

"Taxpayers don't pay for these classes," Lawson said. "They all have
the opportunity to study, but they have pay for it."

LCCF began offering classes to inmates through Lake City Community
College in the fall of 2001.

Educational classes include business math, business communication,
remedial courses and correspondence courses.

Currently, there are approximately 33 inmates taking college
classes.

Some classes are taught by LCCF instructors.

For others, inmates watch video lectures and the professor may come to
the facility periodically to review material or administer exams.

"Even if they can't get college credit here for some classes, by
taking them and showing their transcript when they are released, they
may be able to get credit later," Lawson said.

One inmate, Nathan Wilson, began taking classes in the spring of
2002.

He received his associate's degree this spring and graduated with a
3.97 grade point average with Summa Cum Laude honors.

Wilson took history, composition, psychology courses among
others.

In addition, he took several correspondence classes at the University
of Florida.

Wilson credits his strong family support for his success.

"We all have to do our time, but it doesn't have t be hard time," he
said. "You get out of it what you make of it."

In addition to his A.A., Wilson enrolled in a year-long program in
culinary arts and earned a Pastry Chef certificate.

"It has helped me pass the time and keeps me busy," he
said.

Wilson continues to take correspondence classes to earn a bachelor's
degree.

When he is released, he hopes to go back to his high school to speak
to its students.

"When I joined the military, I went to speak to them," Wilson said.
"Now that this has happened, I want to go back and encourage them to
stay out of prison."

Lawson believes the classes offer inmates a way to better
themselves.

"Offering classes gives these inmates a better chance to turn their
lives around once they get out," he said. "They can go out, raise a
family and be productive citizens."