Pt. MacKenzie Correctional Farm

Superintendent: Joseph Schmidt

PO Box 873889
Wasilla, Alaska 99687

Telephone: (907) 376-2976
Fax: (907) 376-0725

Mission
Point MacKenzie Rehabilitation Program's (PMRP) primary mission is to provide a transition between traditional Correctional Centers and the community for the offender. PMRP's staff strives to compliment this transition through involving offenders in industrial, agricultural, service and technological oriented enterprise which can provide meaningful employment for them upon their release.

PMRP provides:

Opportunities for offenders to be responsible for themselves;
Aid to the community through the offenders' involvement in local, neighborhood and special projects;
Viable work opportunities for offenders;
Educational advancement opportunities through active GED, mechanical and computer oriented courses;
Expanded life and vocational skills through farming, mechanics, building maintenance, heavy equipment operation, forestry services and basic computer operation;
Substance abuse assessment, education and treatment.
PMRP's secondary mission is to develop and expand a non-traditional minimum security, minimum custody facility for sentenced misdemeanant and felon men working within established parameters while furthering the development of programs in animal and produce farming.

Farming
The Point Mackenzie Rehabilitation Program has a sustained herd of hogs, several cows, and raises turkeys and chickens. There is an active effort to determine what other animals will be profitable. The produce operation has provided some 100 tons of potatoes and 45,000 pounds of several different varieties of vegetables over the past four years to institutions around the state, as well as grains. Approximately 221 acres were planted in 2001 with future plans to increase this acreage by another 100-150 acres.

Beginning January 1, 2001 our hydroponics program began operation and has produced five different varieties of tomatoes, banana peppers, snow peas, raspberries, blueberries, gooseberries, kiwi and three different varieties of sprouts. Spring planting season in 2001 involved planting about three and a half tons of clean barley seed. Five tons of potato seed from Delta Junction was planted this year for next year's seed.

Approximate acreage planted in 2001 included:

Grain60 acres Hay75 acres New Hay 50 acres Potatoes 24 acres Vegetables12 acres Total:221 acres
Approximately 10,000 starter plants are doing well in the facility greenhouse, including flowers, vegetables and berry bushes. A portion of the produce is shared with other institutions in the state.

Education
The Education Department at Point MacKenzie strives to offer a wide range of general education and vocational certification programs to the residents here. Educational Coordinator David Bales manages a small crew of incarcerated men who between them instruct and manage all but a few of these programs.

Some of the courses that PMRP offers are:

Adult Basic Education (ABE)
Adult Secondary Education (GED)
ADL Testing
Computer Assisted Resume
Computer Concepts and Applications
CPR/First Aid
Computer Drafting Fundamentals
Computer Drafting Fundamentals Expanded
Graphic Design with Print Artist
Introduction to Computers
Introduction to Windows 95
Introduction to Windows 98 (pending)
Key CAD
Keyboarding Fundamentals
Pre-Release
Safety Briefing
Safety Orientation
DOS Essentials
Veteran Services
Wood Shop Safety Orientation
Introduction To The Internet - Computer Based Training (CBT)
General Software Proficiency - CBT
Understanding Hardware
Introduction to Operating Systems
Victim Impact
College Prep (ACT/SAT)
Electrical Journeyman Test Training**
Post-Secondary Education*
CDL Testing**
Chainsaw Safety Orientation
Fire Response Team Training
Food Service Sanitation Orientation
Pesticides - EPA
Serving Safe Foods
TQM Swine Management
Clarity - Confined Spaces Entry - CBT
Clarity - Electrical Safety - CBT
Clarity - Electrical Power Generation - CBT
Clarity - Forklift Certification - CBT
NAPA / NIAT*
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[color=black]*At offender's own expense
**The written instruction is free but upon release the offender has to cover licensing expense.
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http://www.correct.state.ak.us/corrections/institutions/ptmac/

History


The Point MacKenzie Rehabilitation Program began operation in 1993. The program developed out of an idea and belief of Representative Ramona Barnes. This inspired plan departed from the traditional methods of incarceration by allowing low custody offenders the opportunity to build self-esteem by working the land and constructing their environment. At the time of its opening, the farm was essentially abandoned and in general disrepair. The initial goal of this interagency program was to restore and preserve the Point MacKenzie farm with a secondary focus on the following:

Develop work programs within the farm setting;

Provide offender rehabilitation, vocational training, substance abuse counseling, life skills and work programs;

Develop specific prerelease and life skills programs that
will target male offenders;

Provide agricultural products for Department Of Corrections institutions;

Provide needed bed space to reduce crowding in DOC institutions;

Provide meaningful alternative placement from institutions.

Since inception, the farm camp has expanded to accommodate 112 male offenders, 64 of which live in ATCO modular trailers, 19 of which live in a newly constructed dormitory (built by offenders) and 29 of which live in remodeled dormitory-type (originally, split-level farm) houses.

Today, the population stays consistently around this maximum accommodation of 112 offenders. The success experienced thus far indicates that we can indeed provide as anticipated and it is now expected that the project will not only be here but will expand further.


Photos: http://www.correct.state.ak.us/corrections/Institutions/ptmac/slideshow.asp