In various prison institutions of Ohio, the prisoners are finding a sense of responsibility and rehabilitation through the care of injured or orphaned animals. Small birds fallen by the nest, bunnies left alone due to accidents and Opossum lost they find a second possibility thanks to the attention of the prisoners, led by the Ohio Wildlife Center.
The program, launched in a pioneering way almost 25 years ago by the deceased founder of the Donald Burton center, not only saves animals, but also offers prisoners an opportunity for personal growth. They have the opportunity to take care of living beings other than themselves, developing empathy and discipline, with obvious positive effects on their daily behavior. A real rehabilitation.
What do prisoners do
In penitentiary such as the Marion Correctional Institution, the Richland Correctional Institution and the Ohio Reformerry for Women, interested parties receive specific training on how to feed and assist wild animals in difficulty. Some birds are hosted in special aviaries, while other small mammals can even be in cages inside the cells, allowing prisoners to follow their recovery closely. In addition to direct care, prisoners build houses and cages for animals.
Between January and June, 284 animals were treated at Marion alone, and the goal is to reach 1,000 by the end of the year. According to Scott Fuqua, coordinator of the program, the impact on prisoners is significant. In fact, changes are seen in their behavior. They tend to stay away from problems and show interest in learning animals.
The numbers and impact of the project
Some prisoners in prison for many years for a serious crime have developed skills on numerous species, managing complex recovery situations. For them, seeing and healing animals arrived in desperate conditions is something unique. Even the prisoners of the Ohio Reformers for Women, who have participated in the project since 1994, are having great improvements.
So far, the Ohio Wildlife Center Hospital has treated about 9,000 animals of almost 200 species. 70% of this work is carried out by the prisoners within the prison structures. Over 60 prisoners participated in the project in five state institutes, with 52 of them at Marion, where birds are caught exclusively. For some participants, losing the right to deal with animals would represent a real sanction, demonstrating how precious this experience in prison life is.
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