16 Hawaiʻi inmates graduate fellowship academy at Saguaro Correctional Center
Saguaro Correctional Center celebrated its first Prison Fellowship Academy graduation, with 16 Hawaiʻi inmates completing the 12-month program.
The Prison Ministry Academy program targets the following learning objectives:
- Criminogenic thinking and behavior
- Addictions and life controlling issues
- Life skills and reentry
- Relationships
- Spiritual formation
“Broadening the opportunities here at [Saguaro Correctional Center] takes us another step forward to achieving our purpose of offering meaningful programs for those in our care which allows them to successfully reconnect with their families and reintegrate within their communities,” said Warden Shawn Wead.
The Saguaro Correctional Center is a private prison in Eloy, Ariz., that is owned and operated by CoreCivic. The Hawaiʻi Department of Public Safety contracts with the prison to house a majority of the state’s male prison population.
In a press release, CoreCivic said faith-based programs like Prison Ministry have shown to be particularly effective in lowering recidivism among participants.
The prison also offers a wide range of programs, including adult basic education, GED, college, faith-based skills, addictions treatment, carpentry, computer studies, canine training, behaviors skills, anger management and career coding.