Operation Impact Program

This program truly exemplifies the community spirit instilled in all HCDOC staff members.  It is a drug and alcohol awareness program intended to provide the youths of our community with a snapshot of life within a correctional facility and the stark realization of the effects of incarceration on the individual and his/her family.  It includes a tour of the correctional facility and a question and answer period with prescreened inmates. The program allows inmates the opportunity to share their life experiences with participants in the hope that they will learn from the mistakes of others.

In fiscal year 2006, the Operation Impact message was delivered to 683 participants from 19 different schools and youth organizations.  Operation Impact is now a standard component of several high schools curricula.  Several colleges in New Hampshire have also made a practice of including the Operation Impact program with their criminal justice related courses.

The Hillsborough County Department of Corrections gratefully accepts partial funding of this program by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services in partnership with the Hillsborough County Incentive Fund Program.

Rehabilitation and Self-Improvement Programs

Although the Hillsborough County Department of Corrections certainly understands the need for the incarceration of individuals who cannot conform to the standards of today’s society, we also believe that these periods of incarceration need not be the simple “warehousing” of offenders.  Inmates are encouraged to enroll in educational and self-help programs to increase their chances of success upon release and return to the community better prepared to face their own challenges.

The Hillsborough County Department of Corrections continually recruits volunteers from the community to provide a variety of rehabilitative and self-help services to the inmate population.  We are extremely grateful to these volunteers and would like to acknowledge their efforts at this time.

Community Service Program

The HCDOC Community Service Program was created to provide towns and municipalities of Hillsborough County with a labor force to complete projects that would otherwise go undone due to limited resources and shrinking budgets.  The success of the program is readily apparent, as it has now expanded to include a variety of non-profit organizations, as well as, most Hillsborough County agencies. 

In fiscal year 2006, the Community Service Program was sent to nineteen (19) different agencies in sixteen (16) different municipalities throughout Hillsborough County.  Additionally the Program completed projects for non-profit agencies such as Upreach Therapeutic Riding Center, the New Hampshire Special Olympics, and various youth athletic legues.

The Community Service Program logged a total of 11,944 inmate hours during fiscal year 2006.  The HCDOC looks forward to continuing this Program for the benefit of various municipalities and non-profit agencies, as well as, the rehabilitative effects experienced by participating inmates.

Active Christian Parenting

Specialized and Faith-Based Inmate Programming

House of Healing

This is a faith-based program that focuses on teaching inmates ways to cope with stress, improve relationships with family members, and “…learn how to experience greater peace, inner power and freedom.”  The group meets for two hours, weekly, for twelve weeks.  In fiscal year 2006, approximately 27 inmates completed this program.

Thresholds and Decisions

This program is designed to “…help inmates clearly see their situation in life, choose appropriate goals, and to develop skills which increase the chances of attaining those goals...” Participants attend a two-hour weekly class, as well as, a weekly one on one individual counseling session.  Inmates must complete homework assignments and meet attendance requirements to complete the program.  In fiscal year 2006, a total of twenty-two (22) inmates met the requirements for graduation from this program.

Parenting Program for Parents of Preschoolers

This program is designed to help incarcerated individuals develop parenting skills. The group meets for two hours each week, for eight weeks and focuses on subjects such as raising a healthy baby, quality childcare, and discipline.  This new program was successfully completed by approximately seventeen male inmates and was very well received.  Prior to fiscal year 2006, the program was only offered to female
Inmates

Residential Substance Abuse Treatment  (RSAT)

In October 2005, the HCDOC was awarded a grant in the amount of $19,264 to implement a “Jail Based Residential Substance Treatment Program.”  The grant was awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice and administered by the New Hampshire Department of Justice.

The HCDOC contracted the services of a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) and began this twelve-week in-house treatment program in March 2006.  The program focuses on cognitive behavior skills and relapse prevention.  Program topics include the “Disease Concept of Addiction, Physiological Effects of Alcohol and Drugs, HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis, Guest Speakers from the Division of Employment Security, and Spirituality.”

Thirteen pre-screened inmates graduated from the program in fiscal year 2006.  The HCDOC has recently been advised that the grant period has been extended through June 2007.  This will allow the HCDOC to continue the program past the original end date of September 30, 2006.