News: Press Releases

Operation Turnaround Celebrates Second Graduation at Indian Creek Correctional Center in Chesapeake

RICHMOND – Virginia Department of Corrections (DOC) Director Ron Angelone was the keynote speaker and host today at the second graduation for the Re-Entry Life Program, part of Operation Turnaround, at Indian Creek Correctional Center. Indian Creek Correctional Center and St. Brides Correctional Center are the pilot facilities for this re-entry program and the joint ceremony at Indian Creek was the first of its kind for both facilities.

“It’s always a pleasure to see a program such as Operation Turnaround making a difference in the attitude and expectations of ex-offenders as they prepare to re-enter society,” said Director Angelone. “Operation Turnaround gives the necessary direction and sense of hope that every offender needs. It’s that sense of community and family that many of us take for granted but so necessary to produce a responsible member of society.”

Operation Turnaround is a statewide initiative that has been under development for more than a year, especially in the Hampton Roads area. It is a volunteer partnership between the Faith Community Action Coalition, business and education communities, Secretary of Public Safety, DOC, Department of Juvenile Justice, and Department of Correctional Education.

Through pre- and post-release programs, Operation Turnaround focuses on assisting adult and juvenile inmates/ex-offenders to re-enter society successfully and become productive citizens, through vocational-technical training, extensive mentoring, supervision and on-going support, and an anti-drug and alcohol component.

Currently, available training includes GED/literacy, computer, automotive, furniture, construction, restaurant and entrepreneurial. Job training is tailored to the prevailing needs of the community and the ex-offender.

Begun in early 1999, Operation Turnaround appears to have strong support in those communities where there are pilot programs, in large measure because of the faith community's involvement. Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Newport News and Hampton have active pilot programs. Richmond, Petersburg, Henrico, Hanover and Chesterfield are in the early development stages of pilot programs. Several communities in the northern, western and southern areas of Virginia are in the preliminary planning stages of programs.