A Prison Braille Program in North Carolina North Carolina Conference for Visual Impairment and Blindness March 26, 20

1. A Prison Braille Program in North CarolinaNorth Carolina Conference for Visual Impairment and Blindness March 26, 2010 Presenters: Diane Wormsley, NCCU Karen Brown, Correction Enterprises Julie Kagy, NCDPI

2.  Why a Prison Braille Program?  National shortage of braille production Transcription is labor intensive, even with technological advancements still requiring attention to detail and focus. This lends itself well to a prison setting with directed work programs.

3. Why a Prison Braille Program? This model can be traced back to the early 20th century in Norway. Most of the braille produced in Britain is done in a prison setting. The model supports a network of qualified transcribers. Correction officials find the programs promote rehabilitation. Low recidivism rate

4. Prison Braille in the US The first prison braille program was developed in Michigan in 1962. (MBTF) National Prison Braille Network was founded in 2001, organized by APH Guidelines for programs published in 2009 by APH.

5. 2009 Prison Braille Programs . Prison Braille Program Directory was published in 2009 36 Programs currently operating 2 Programs in federal prisons 29 Programs in state prisons 5 Producing braille but not in directory

6. 23 Programs in men�s prisons 7 Programs in women�s prisons 1 Program in mixed facility 786 Offenders working in prison braille programs in the US 0-3% Reported recidivism rate among offenders who worked in prison braille programs for at least two years and have been released

7. According to a 1994 study by the Bureau of Justice Statistics 67.5% of all inmates in the US were rearrested within three years of release 46.9% were reconvicted

8. Prison Braille programs in the US today produce over 5,000,000 pages of Braille per year

9. Goals Correctional Facilities: To Educate Rehabilitate Prepare offenders for reentry by providing them with opportunities to gain job skills, establish a viable career path and discover their own talents and abilities

10. Goals Vision-related Organizations: To develop a highly qualified Braille transcription workforce that will produce quality Braille materials for people who are blind, particularly textbooks and related educational materials for students who are blind in grades K-12.

11. Benefits Each individual or organization involved with prison Braille programs benefits in some way � and most benefit in several ways.

12. Benefits for Consumers Braille readers receive more of the reading materials they want and need in their preferred reading medium, at a reasonable cost and delivered in a timely manner

13. Benefits for VI Professionals Agencies serving the blind, such as schools, state departments of education, and social service agencies, are better able to meet the needs of clientele for Braille materials. Braille materials can be produced in a time-efficient manner in prison settings, since transcribers generally work in teams. The cost of Braille production in correctional facilities is substantially lower than the cost of Braille produced by organization on the outside. This results in significant savings for agencies with limited budgets that purchase Braille material.

14. Benefits for Offenders Offenders can benefit from participating in prison Braille programs in a wide variety of life-changing ways: Strengthening cognitive skills Gaining work experience and work ethics by holding a full-time job � many for the first time Learning to work as part of a team while discovering and utilizing individual strengths and talents

15. Benefits for Offenders Gaining self confidence by learning a complex translation code, completing tasks successfully, and earning respect from peers, supervisors and family members Learning Braille and developing a viable career path that can be continued outside of prison following release Learning marketable job-related skills that can be transferred to other professions

16. Benefits for Correctional Facilities Establishing a major component of a sound reentry plan Prison industries can generate revenue for business operations while providing offenders with meaningful job opportunities and job skills training

17. Mountain View Prison Braille Program Testimonials

18. In Their Own Words �Being involved in Braille since 2004 allowed me to use my energies to accomplish a higher purpose � bringing the light of learning into someone else�s life. I became organized, productive, responsible. For once in my life I found I had a voice that I had never used. For the first time in a very long time I felt like I was worthy. Proud of myself and my accomplishments. Braille has been my salvation in the darkest time of my life.� �Braille taught me to look at things through different eyes.� Female transcriber State Correctional Institution at Cambridge Springs BrailleMates Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania

19. In Their Own Words �During the course of their tenure in the program there is marked improvement in their self-esteem and self-confidence. As this occurs over time, numerous inmates have related that they begin to think about the greater possibilities that life has to offer. For most, this is the first positive encounter they have experienced with employment and achievement in life.� �Since the initiation of the Braille program, we have not had any of our past transcribers return to our facility.� Rhoda Winstead Superintendent State Correctional Institution at Cambridge Springs Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania

20. In Their Own Words The South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind (SCSDB) Braille Production Center is well respected by the Warden and other top officials in the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) system and is known as �the pride of the prison.� If the program could speak for itself, we believe it would say: �We have taught these inmates communication skills, social skills, personal life-changing skills and skills that will help them to become productive citizens once they are back into society.� Eunice Rowell, Ed.D, Manager SCSDB Braille Production Center Leath Correctional Center for Women Greenwood, South Carolina

21. In Their Own Words �Becoming a part of the Braille program has shown me that I am capable of so much more than I could ever imagine. I have hope of becoming a productive part of my community and not just another unemployed felon because of the opportunity this program provides. I can now set goals for myself because I have spent my time here at Leath learning something that will help me become a more productive citizen when I am released from prison. I am honored to be able to provide visually handicapped children with the same textbooks and graphics that sighted children use, thus giving them the same educational advantages as a sighted child.� Female transcriber SCSDB Braille Production Center Leath Correctional Institution for Women Greenwood, South Carolina

22. In Their Own Words �Braille has made such a difference in my life. I now have a focused direction and I know what I want to do. I have learned to work with others and value their opinion. I have learned to control my emotions and not always jump to anger when someone does not agree with me or when I make a mistake.� �I will always take joy and pride in knowing that I do make a difference in someone�s life.� Female transcriber Mountain View Braille Facility Texas Department of Criminal Justice Gatesville, Texas

23. In Their Own Words �Knowing that one day I could possibly be a mentor to someone who wants to learn Braille transcription is a feeling that goes beyond belief. One day, I hope to be among the best in this field so that I can teach others to be the best also.� Male transcriber Grafton Braille Service Center Grafton Correctional Institution Grafton, Ohio

24. Challenges of a Prison Program Model Enlisting support from Prison Officials Graphic tools in a prison environment Training Inmates Retaining experienced transcribers

25. Correction Enterprises To provide meaningful work experience for inmates, and quality goods and services at an exceptional value to tax-supported institutions of North Carolina. To help create a more productive and promising future outside prison walls-both for the inmates in our charge, and for the community of people they will someday interact with � by instilling the values of work and teamwork.

26. What is Correction Enterprises? Correction Enterprises (NCCE) provides On-The-Job training to inmates to prepare them to work when released from incarceration. NCCE provides training in 16 different industries at 31 locations statewide. Some industries include paint, sign, license tag, furniture, janitorial products and textile manufacturing, printing, warehousing, laundry services, farming and food production.

27. Correction Enterprises Correction Enterprises is 100% receipt supported. We do not receive any tax funding. We can sell our products to all state, county, municipal, not-for-profit that receives public grant support, and state/county/retired employees. NCCE returns an average of $6.5 million to the general fund every year and contributes 5% of our gross profits to the Crime Victims Compensation Fund.

28. Correction Enterprises How do we train inmates? Partner with Community Colleges Partner with NC Department of Labor Apprenticeship Programs Partner with Trade Organizations Proficiency Certificates

29. Correction Enterprises Story

30. NC Department of Correction�s Statistics 40,000 inmates; 125,000 on Community Corrections. 98% will be released. 28,000 released from prison every year, back to our communities. 48% will recidivate, or return to prison within 3 years or less. Most criminals commit an average of 4 crimes before they are reincarcerated.

31. NC Department of Correction�s Statistics Two biggest barriers to successful re-entry are employment and housing. 60% of inmates come to prison without a GED. Most have never worked.

32. Correction Enterprises� Effect on Recidivism Statistics have shown that inmates who receive training and work with Correction Enterprises for 6 months or more reduce their rate of recidivism by 25%!

33. Starting the Program in North Carolina Original contact with Correction Enterprises by Debbie Jackson, Director of Division of Services for the Blind Discussion by Vision Partnership members from: Department of Health and Human Services North Carolina Central University North Carolina Dept. of Public Instruction

34. Contact with APH and National Prison Braille Network Meetings with Karen Brown and Robert Leon from Correction Enterprises Diane Wormsley attended 2008 meeting of Prison Braille Forum at APH Karen Brown and Robert Leon visit several braille transcription services and other prison braille programs Karen Brown, Robert Leon and Julie Kagy attended 2009 meeting of Prison Braille Forum at APH

35. Issues Funding Educational Support Choosing a site

36. The Braille Transcription Program was approved for implementation in accordance with General Statute 66-58 (F). The proposal was signed by Governor Perdue on March 10, 2010 Funding

37. Educational Support: Richmond Community College will facilitate and oversee the teaching component of the program. A Library of Congress Certified Braillist will provide instruction and support.

38. Choosing a Site: What�s Needed Adequate, dedicated space A mission that supports educational programming and emphasizes rehabilitation and learning job skills in preparation for reentry A warden who strongly supports the program, will allow vision personnel to enter the prison regularly and will permit the use of necessary materials and supplies

39. Choosing a Site: What�s Needed Adequate corrections personnel to provide program security Close proximity to vision professionals willing to help Significant pool of long-term inmates Inmate gender does not generally play a role in prison selection, since both men and women can become highly successful Braille transcribers

40. Scotland County Prison Facility is chosen as the North Carolina site. Site visit by Karen Brown, Robert Leon, Diane Wormsley, Jennifer McMillen and Julie Kagy Choosing a Site

41. Educational/ Production Model Transcription Textbook Formatting Nemeth Code Tactile Graphics Embossing Production of Large Print Binding Shipping

42. NC Dept. of Instruction Textbook Warehouse Local Educational Agencies Residential Schools Libraries Customers

43. Upcoming Issues Inmate Selection Vision Professional employed Design of program Acquisition of materials

44. Resources Prison Braille Programs: The Inside Scoop http://www.aph.org/aphnew/scoop.html Guidelines for Starting and Operating a Prison Braille Program available from the American Printing House for the Blind Correction Enterprises Website www.correctionenterprises.com