The corridors of George W. Hill Correctional Facility echoed with a different kind of footsteps last Thursday - those of proud program participants walking alongside their four-legged companions. The Delaware County facility celebrated the graduation of the latest New Leash on Life USA class, an innovational initiative combining canine companionship and rehabilitative support for inmates, according to the county's website. In an expression of their belief in redemption and second chances, county representatives and facility staff gathered to honor both human and canine graduates.
Interim Warden David Mascellino and Re-entry and Program Administrator Kelly Shaw presided over the event, which also featured members of the Delaware County Council, county agency representatives, and members of the Jail Oversight Board. The program emphasizes not only vocational training through dog handling but also includes life skills, career readiness, and counseling inspired by cognitive behavioral therapy, “It’s special seeing the impact this program has and the ways it gives second chances to both dogs and people,” Mascellino shared. Shaw echoed these sentiments, telling Delaware County, "We’ve watched our participants grow in confidence, develop trust, and take real pride in their work since this class began."
This rejuvenating program, which marks its third class of graduates, operates via a strategic partnership with the nonprofit organization New Leash on Life USA. With a generous $1.9 million in federal support secured by Representative Mary Gay Scanlon for Prison-to-Community Workforce Development initiatives, New Leash on Life USA's model has reached commendable heights. The dual-phase, six-month program pairs inmates with shelter dogs destined for euthanasia, transforming the lives of all involved over 12 weeks of intensive training followed by re-entry services and paid internships.
Participants are not left to fend for themselves upon graduation. Continuous support consisting of job placement, transit access, housing, and health care resources is provided, complementing other re-entry offerings at the facility. This wraparound approach has fostered notable success - since 2011, New Leash has proudly touted a 75% graduation rate and has shrunk the one-year recidivism to just 10.5%, all the while saving over 312 dogs from untimely deaths, "We’re all better off when people who are incarcerated know there is life after this period, there are people who believe in them, and that we expect big things from them when this period ends," Councilmember Christine Reuther imparted at the ceremony, as noted on the county's website.
Contributions from the Office of the Public Defender, Adult Probation, the Office of the District Attorney, and other dedicated staff members were recognized for their vital roles in the program's success.
