FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

From the Office of the Secretary

West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety


Joe Thornton, Contact: Lawrence Messina
Cabinet Secretary 304-558-2930
Lawrence.C.Messina@wv.gov
Sept. 11, 2014

W.Va. Prison Launches Moral Rehabilitation College Degree Program

MOUNT OLIVE, W.Va. -- West Virginia inmates can now pursue a four-year college
degree through a program launched this week at the Mount Olive Correctional Complex.

The new Moral Rehabilitation program aims to provide just that, Corrections
Commissioner Jim Rubenstein said.

I believe we have the opportunity to make some truly positive changes not only within
our Corrections system but that our efforts can be far reaching throughout the state,
said Rubenstein, who is also a deputy secretary of the W.Va. Department of Military
Affairs and Public Safety.

Nearly 30 Mount Olive inmates successfully applied to form the programs inaugural
class, which meets Monday through Thursday with independent study sessions on
Fridays.

The program will operate as an extension campus of Appalachian Bible College, an
accredited Raleigh County institution. Inmates who complete the program will earn a
Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Theology.

Allen Ferry, a veteran U.S. Army and New York Department of Corrections chaplain, is
the programs instructor and said it is open to inmates regardless of faith.

I am not here to change peoples religion. I dont even know what they are, said Ferry
of his students. I hope to change their attitude toward life and living.

The program will involve no taxpayer dollars or other public funds. Catalyst Ministries,
which already works with West Virginia inmates, will cover its costs.

This is a non-traditional program to effect culture change in our prisons that will save
lives, reduce victims, reduce violence, save money, and save children of incarcerated
parents from following in their parents footsteps, said Mount Olive Warden David
Ballard.



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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From the Office of the Secretary
West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety



The Moral Rehabilitation program is inspired by and will closely follow the college
course at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola. Officials there credit
the program for drastically reducing violence within the nations largest maximum-
security prison.

Rubenstein and DOC officials have visited Angola several times, most recently late last
month with other state officials including several legislators.

As both a legislator and a pastor, I cant say enough about how impressed I was by the
program at Angola, said Delegate David Walker, D-Clay. I believe the educational
curriculum being offered by Appalachian Bible College carries tremendous potential for
reducing violence at Mount Olive, and offers prisoners who will one day be released a
stronger chance of becoming productive citizens.

State Sen. Bill Laird, D-Fayette and a former four-term county sheriff, was also part of
the August trip.

Our recent visit confirmed that moral rehabilitation has played a major role in the
transformation of one of Americas toughest institutions, Laird said. I feel that this
non-traditional program holds great potential in West Virginia for inmates attempting
to redeem themselves in seeking to return to society as law abiding and productive
citizens.

Moral Rehabilitation is designed for inmates serving life or long-term sentences, but
also recognizes that most inmates at Mount Olive and other Division of Corrections
facilities will eventually return to society. Rubenstein envisions graduates counseling
and encouraging other inmates, and assisting prison chaplains with their ministries and
services.

Ferry had been retired for about two years when he agreed to head the program.

I was very excited to come out of retirement to do this, Ferry said.

Appalachian Bible College, in conjunction with Catalyst Ministries, will hold a
convocation at the prison to mark the opening of Mount Olive Bible College on Monday,
Sept. 29.

"I am committed to the Moral Rehabilitation concept that we have embarked on,
Rubenstein said. I honestly feel, in the future, we will also see this as having a
tremendous impact on the juvenile justice system as well. I sincerely applaud everyone
involved for taking this historical first step.

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