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Media Relations Office:
Ukrainian Delegation visits ADC
привіт від арізона! (Greetings from Arizona!) The World Affairs Council of Arizona, a division of the U.S. Department of State, recently hosted a delegation of corrections professionals from the Ukraine. Included in the group were the following high ranking Ukrainian State Penal Department officials; Department Chief Sergiy Gorenko, Office of International Relations and European Integration Chief Kostiantyn Babak, Department of Sociology and Psychology Chief Merhiy Skokov, Department of Pre-trial Detention Chief Mykola Horobtsov and Monitoring and Security Department Chief Mykola Iltiai.
The group began their visit at ADC by meeting with Mental Health Program Manager Dr. Randy Garland, Health Services Administrator Dr. Dennis Kendall. and Southern Regional Medical Director Ted Jolley to discuss a variety of topics including inmate healthcare and mental health programs. Nancy Hughes, Community Corrections Re-Entry Administrator, discussed release preparation programs. "Interacting with the gentlemen from the Ukraine was a fun and enlightening experience," Nancy Hughes said. "Their questions included a variety of topics." The members of the delegation were most interested in learning about community agencies interacting with our prisons, assaults by inmates, inmate death statistics, and re-entry management. During the afternoon, the delegation also visited ASPC-Florence, viewing the death chamber and touring Central Unit. ASPC-Florence's acting Warden, Robert Stewart, said that most of the questions the delegates asked concerned programming. "There were lots of faith-based questions. How often do inmates get to see the chaplain? What kind of access to they have to mental health professionals?", he said. "Also, there were several questions about staffing and security related issues. Their reaction was positive, and they seemed impressed with the amount of programming opportunities offered in such a high security unit." The Ukrainian State Penal Department is experiencing similar challenges to those currently facing ADC. They are looking for innovative ways to address offender medical issues, staff salary and turnover concerns, and offender re-entry. The delegation was appreciative and intrigued by the work being accomplished by ADC. ADC will be sending them follow-up information, including our Strategic Plan. |
