Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp & Wyoming Boot Camp
Newcastle, Wyoming
Warden: Steven Hargett
Deputy Warden: Michael David
Address: P.O. Box 160/Pippen Road, Newcastle, Wyoming 82701
Phone: 307.746.4436
Fax: 307.746.9316
E-mail: WZINK@wdoc.state.wy.us
Inmate Count
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Facility
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COUNT (as of June 18, 2009)
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Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp
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235
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Wyoming Boot Camp
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57
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TOTAL
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292
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The Beginning
For the past 44 years, the Wyoming State Forestry Division and the Board of Charities and Reform (later incorporated into the Department of Corrections) have combined efforts and resources in the development and support of a Forestry Conservation Camp Program manned by inmates from a Wyoming Department of Corrections facility. Prior to the authorization of the Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp by the legislature, the Wyoming State Forestry Division, in conjunction with the Board of Charities and Reforms, operated fire and conservation camps in the Black Hills area as early as the 1960’s. These camps were manned by a forestry technician, one correctional officer, and six inmates from the Wyoming State Penitentiary.
The 1986 Session Laws of Wyoming reflect the addition of "camps" to the definition of penal institutions. Chapter 65 relates to penitentiary camps, "authorizing the creation and operation of penitentiary camps to provide places of confinement and employment for persons committed to the state penitentiary."
The Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp was constructed on state land north of the town of Newcastle. The WHCC received its first funding in 1988. An appropriation of $311,850 was allocated and used for the purchase of modular buildings and site preparation. Site preparation continued through the summer of 1989. At that point, approximately 24 minimum custody inmates were transferred to Newcastle to begin reconstruction of the modular buildings that would become the kitchen/dining facility, inmate barracks and offices.
Since this modest beginning, there has been substantial growth at the Wyoming Honor Conservation and Boot Camp facility. During the 2003-2004 sessions the legislature made an appropriation of $6,326,204 for another expansion of the facility. Through these expansions WHCC has grown into a prison containing three dorms, which house 238 minimum inmates, and a double fenced-in secure Boot Camp building which houses 56 inmates. Total facility capacity has grown from 24 inmates in 1989 to 294 inmates in 2008. WHCC now has a warehouse, as well as programming, vocational, recreational, and educational space, to allow us to meet the goal of reducing recidivism through cognitive and behavioral intervention.
Youthful Offender Program (Wyoming Boot Camp)
The Youthful Offender Program was created by the Wyoming Legislature in 1987 in Wyoming Statute 7-13-1001 and the facility was opened in February 1990. The Wyoming Boot Camp, which can house up to 56 multiple custody inmates, is located within the confines of the Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp at Newcastle, Wyoming.
The Boot Camp was originally developed as a 90-day program. The program began with ten Boot Camp inmates. In April 1994, the Boot Camp program was expanded to 120 days and in October2007 the program was expanded once again to the current 180-day program.
This is a highly structured program for first-time, male offenders, who have not attained the age of 25. These offenders must have a court ordered recommendation. The Youthful Offender Program gives the successful graduates an opportunity for a sentence reduction and serves as an alternative to long-term incarceration.
The basic program is for 180 days and comprises four phases. The routine day begins at 4:00 a.m. and ends at 9:00 p.m. During each day nearly six hours of the inmates’ time is devoted to physical activity. Therapeutic and educational programs are the key component. Work ethic instruction is given through the teamwork concept, as various work details are conducted throughout each day. If needed, or possible, all inmates assigned to Boot Camp earn their GED prior to graduation. Upon completion of the program graduates are released to straight probation, Intensive Supervision Program (ISP), or to an Adult Community Corrections facility.
"Lost Orphaned Valued Exceptional Dogs" Program (Or the "LOVED" Program as it is better known at the WHCC Boot Camp)
The purpose of the LOVED program is to provide a "community service" by inmates working with the local humane society to increase the adoptability of canines of various ages and breeds, teaching the dogs basic social skills. At the same time inmates develop vocational skills, enhance decision-making abilities, increase responsibility and increase self-esteem. Specifically, the program utilizes human-animal association and different disciplines involved in these associations to give inmates positive measurable gains in the following areas: vocational skills, anger management, decision-making, and responsibility. The program also allows inmates to enhance written skills through journaling and maintaining a daily log, participate in classroom and hands on instruction, and improve parenting skills through realizing the effectiveness of positive reinforcement.
Wyoming State Forestry Division
The Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp system is a joint effort between the Wyoming Department of Corrections and the Wyoming State Forestry Division. This mutual affiliation has been operational, in one form or another, since 1964. The Wyoming Department of Corrections operates the facility and the State Forestry Division supervises the inmates assigned to the forestry crews.
Jobs and/or projects completed by the forestry work crews, while under the direct supervision of Wyoming State Forestry crew supervisors, fall into four categories. These categories are 1) forestry projects, 2) firefighting projects, 3) community service projects, and 4) federal projects.
1) Forestry Projects are conducted on state lands and are overseen by the State Forestry Division. These projects typically follow the timber/state land management activities. They include pre-commercial thinning; salvaging of cut wood into posts, firewood, or saw logs; slash burning; erosion control; tree planting and transplanting; pine seed collection; and insect and disease suppression including biological control of leafy spurge.
2) Firefighting Projects can be divided into two categories. The first is wild land firefighting. Our trained inmates can currently fight any wild land fire inside the state of Wyoming and in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Firefighting activities can be provided to any State, County, or Federal agency.
The second category is controlled/prescribed burns. This includes management burning on state and federal lands. Inmates trained and utilized to fight fires are called “Smoke Busters”. This is a program that holds a lot of respect and pride in our community. It provides experience for the inmates that can carry over into a career upon their re-entry into society as well as gives them a sense of accomplishment while imprisoned.
3) Community Service Projects can be for any State, City or County agency. The work must not compete with private enterprises and should be of public benefit. These projects include general maintenance for city and county agencies; hazardous waste clean-up and living snow fence planting; and maintenance for conservation districts, etc.
4) Federal Projects can be for any federal agency. The State is reimbursed for all project costs including personnel, vehicles, equipment, and material.
The Forestry Program, when at capacity, can employ up to 63 inmates at the WHCC. The forestry work crews have been widely accepted in the local communities.
Basic Forestry Program Statistics
From March 1990 through June 30, 2008 a total of 2,207 projects were completed to assist 51 agencies. For more information concerning the Forestry Department at WHCC please go to http://slf-web.state.wy.us/forestry/camp.aspx
Rehabilitation
Prison Health Services (PHS), is the medical contractor for the department. PHS ensures that the facility maintains its National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) accreditation. PHS corporate is located in Brentwood, Tennessee, and the company contracts with numerous jails and prisons. The state of Wyoming has had a contract with PHS since July 2005.
Forensic Health Services (FHS), a wholly owned subsidiary of MHM Services, is contracted to provide the Wyoming Department of Corrections with state of the art sexual offender treatment programming and assessment services. FHS has extensive expertise in providing these services in a correctional setting and has been doing so since its establishment in 1994. In addition to Wyoming, FHS/MHM provides treatment and assessment for this challenging population in Massachusetts and Missouri.
Currently, the sexual offender treatment program in Wyoming is established at three facilities: the Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp, the Wyoming Honor Farm and the Wyoming State Penitentiary. Intake assessment, treatment groups and psycho-educational classes are ongoing for offenders at all three sites. Future programming is planned to include a 64-bed intensive treatment unit for sexual offenders at new Wyoming Medium Correctional Institute in Torrington, Wyoming which is scheduled to open in January 2010.
TACT (Treatment of Addictions and Criminal Thinking) Program
Community Education Centers (CEC) provides one substance abuse counselor for inmates housed at WHCC. Craig Deuter MS – Clinician, provides the Treatment of Addictions and Criminal Thinking (TACT) Program. This is a Level I outpatient style program that supports the rehabilitation of offenders and aids in successful re-entry into society.
Staffing
WHCC Employs State Employees as Well as Contract Employees
- The Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp currently has approximately 98 full time state positions and 2 apprenticeship positions.
- The Wyoming State Forestry Division, as described above, currently has 10 positions at the Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp.
- Forensic Health Services (FHS) employs four staff members who also attend to the other facilities as needed. They include the following:
- Program Manager, Wyoming Sex Offender Treatment Program
- Administrative Assistant, Wyoming Sex Offender Treatment Program
- Psy.D. -- Clinician, Wyoming Sex Offender Treatment Program
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) - Clinician, Wyoming Sex Offender Treatment Program
- Prison Health Services (PHS) at WHCC employs 14 medical staff
- TACT Program employs 1 Master Level Clinician
- One contract chaplain position
Types and Numbers of Staff Positions at the Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp/Wyoming Boot Camp
- Administrative: warden, associate warden, program manager, executive assistant, business manager, human resources manager
- Security: drill instructors, correctional officers, corporals, sergeants, lieutenants and captain
- Support Services: food services, clerical support, maintenance, administrative assistants
- Fiscal Services: to include the business manager and three fiscal specialists.
- Programming & Educational Services: case workers, GED instructors, vocational instructors, and a recreation specialist
- Outside experts to present additional programs to inmates. Trainers include individuals from Consumer Credit Counseling, Wyoming Employment Services, Small Business Administration, University of Wyoming Extension Office, and Prison Ministries.
- WHCC also provides work opportunities to inmates through volunteers who visit the facility weekly
To learn more about the community of Newcastle, Wyoming, visit the following website:
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