Inmate Canine Assistance Programs
Our Inmate Canine Assistance Programs not only benefit the dogs, but also the program’s resident participants, the facility residents, the facility staff, and the recipients of the trained service dogs.
“It’s restorative justice. It’s a way for the inmate to repay the community for the harm they’ve done.”
-Don Redmann, former warden of JRCC
SDA has ICAPs at several correctional facilities throughout North Dakota, including:
- James River Correctional Center (JRCC)
- Missouri River Correctional Center (MRCC)
- North Dakota State Penitentiary (NDSP)
Residents apply and go through a screening process based on good behavior and judgement with input from facility staff. There is always a waiting list of residents who want to be part of the ICAP.
Each dog is assigned to a team of no more than 3 residents who have been trained by SDA trainers. The residents in ICAP are taught canine care and grooming, taught to evaluate and modify canine behavior, taught to train obedience, as well as service dog tasks using positive reinforcement methods under Assistance Dogs International accreditation standards.
SDA trainers visit the programs every other week for group and individual instruction on dog training techniques. Canines in ICAP are evaluated constantly, as are the resident handlers.
Over 70 service dogs in training have gone through the ICAP programs within the ND Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation facilities. There is no doubt, ICAP changes lives – all around. This program is truly a partnership that offers countless benefits to all involved.
