DOC Sentence to Service Crews Sandbag in Moorhead

STS Crews from Clay and Ottertail Counties are putting up sandbag protection in certain areas of Moorhead in case of flooding. Semi trucks bring the made sandbags to the site, the pellets are unloaded and brought to the crews by tracked loaders, and the crews place them. The crews are in great spirits and working hard.

STS is a program that allows offenders to work of their sentences performing community service, instead of being incarcerated in prison.

Saturday, March 23, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Mall of America Rotunda:  Demand the Change for Children, a free, fun, family friendly day of performances, children’s activities, and activism to end child sexual abuse.  More info at http://demandthechangeforchildren.wordpress.com/

Attention Visitors:

As seasonal influenza continues to spread across the state, the DOC is advising those with influenza-like illness (ILI) not to visit our prisons. This will help the department minimize the number of people who become ill.

Additionally, offenders who have ILI will not be allowed to have visitors until their symptoms have resolved.

Symptoms of ILI include: a temperature of 100 degrees or higher with a cough and/or sore throat

Offenders will be able to contact visitors should their visiting become restricted due to illness.

For 19 years, Sentencing to Service (STS) crews have been making a difference in Northeastern Minnesota by installing ramps in the homes of people with disabilities. The program reached a milestone in December with the installation of the one-thousandth ramp.

The Ramp Project is a collaboration between the DOC, the Center for Independent Living of Northeastern Minnesota and Arrowhead Regional Corrections. Eligibility to receive a ramp and design work is overseen by Bob Brown of Center for Independent Living. Offenders in the DOC’s Challenge Incarceration Program boot camp at Willow River have been constructing the ramps since 2010. The ramps are then installed by an STS crew, led by Karl Willberg or Joseph Calaguire. Offenders on the crew are referred to the program through Arrowhead Regional Corrections. The value of the 1,000 ramps is estimated at over $3 million; but the value to the recipients is immeasurable.

In recognition of Restorative Justice Week, an exhibit from The Forgiveness Project was on display at DOC Central Office on November 15. The F Word Exhibit uses stories of victims and offenders to explore concepts of restorative justice, consider the impact of crime on individuals and their communities, and encourage people to consider alternatives to violence. The exhibit is a thought-provoking collection of striking images and personal narratives of victim survivors and offenders from the United States, South Africa, Israel and Palestine, Northern Ireland and England.

First launched in London in 2004, the exhibit has been displayed in over 300 venues worldwide. The exhibit will travel to eight DOC facilities for staff and offenders to view. It will also be shown and Concordia University inSt. Paul and The United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities for public viewing. For more information visit http://theforgivenessproject.com.

The Minnesota Corrections Association (MCA) presented its annual awards at the MCA Fall Training Institute on October 24. Several DOC staff were recognized:

• Officer Steve Sanchez, Stillwater - Corrections Person of the Year
• Rebecca Fratzke, Transitions Program Coordinator at MCF-St. Cloud - Professional Achievement (Corrections Facility)
• DOC Transition from Prison to Community Steering Committee - President's Award
• Mark Groves, Facilities Reentry Coordinator - Board of Directors Award
• Victor Wanchena, Security Technology Project Manager - Technology Award

Look for more pictures on our Facebook page!

Predatory Offender Training for Those Who Care for Children and Vulnerable Adults