PLUS program at Wabash Valley Correctional Facility helping reshape offender's lives

PLUS program at Wabash Valley Correctional Facility helping reshape offender's lives

Evening.

A program at the "wabash valley correctional facility" is doing its part to reform offenders.

At 5 o'clock...we told you about an 18 month program that's helped many over the years.

News 10's richard solomon spoke to one of the offenders in the program.

He explains how it's helped change one man's life.

Richard martin has worked in the plus program for the last 5 years.

He credits this program for helping turn his life around...a complete 180.

In the summer months you can find richard martin in the dirt..

"when we first go out we till the ground you can make mounds for certain vegetables, green beans, zucchini, squash" gardening is a hobby martin picked up unexpectedly...at the wabash valley correctional facility.

While serving his time...martin is in the program called purposeful living units served...or plus program.

"prison can be a deressing thing.

When you wake up you know there's a purpose that you're in there to do something that, it just makes it where when you're going through that change you're also helping other people change that's right there beside you" the program helps change offender's lifetyles.

It last 18 months.

Offenders take classes teaching them life skills.

Like making better decisions.

They also do hours of community service..

Like sewing quilts..face masks..and gardening of course .

Everything they grow or make..is sent to food panties in the community.

"95% of offenders are actually released so they need to be prepared" jackie storm is the community service director for the facility.

"in 6 months we tell them we know your family can see a difference in you.

And to see the difference and the change that they do and the things that they learn to do and how they can become better people, it's a huge transition for them" martin told me there's no doubt this program has saved his life.

"im doing something good even though im in prison this program has made such a change for me that im doing something good for other people" richar} storm says at the end of the program the offenders do have a graduation.

Martin told me when he's released he even wants to have his own garden.

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