TORRINGTON – When one makes a mistake, typically there is something in human nature that makes us want to correct it. Depending on what the mistake was, obviously certain consequences can be much more harsh than others. In the most extreme cases, there may be no turning back.

When that consequence happens to be a prison sentence, at that point there aren’t really a whole lot of options on how to correct or undue whatever it was that occurred.

In the minds of most people, it is the ultimate outcome where one tragically sees many everyday luxuries and inclinations disappear the moment a big metal door slams shut.

Needless to say, nobody is ever going to truly know or understand that feeling unless they themselves have been an inmate.

As a famous film once mentioned, “When those bars slam home, that’s when you know it’s for real. Nothing left but all the time in the world to think about it.”

The Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution (WMCI) in Torrington is all too familiar with individuals that have that feeling every, single day. It is the constant reminder that certain mistakes can change one’s life forever in the blink of an eye.

WMCI, along with the Wyoming Department of Corrections (WDOC), have made a substantial and reasonable goal to ensure that inmates have valuable ways of receiving the ever mythical word in the world of corrections: rehabilitation.

According to the WYDOC Administrator of Support Services, Paul L. Martin, the most effective way to help those finding themselves incarcerated achieve that goal is with the introduction of constructive interactive programs.

These programs may involve academic classes, trades, music, art or any other form of collaborative learning and growth.

One such program that the WMCI has been highly involved with, along with WYDOC overall is the widespread use and development of a braille program.

What is braille again? By definition braille is a form of written language for the visually impaired that utilizes raised characters and patterns that are felt with fingertips, rather than read with sight.

And like with anything other language, braille must be taught and learned; something many veteran WMCI inmates have been able to do with flying colors.

With the program having been introduced to the Wyoming penal system in August of 2010, Martin strongly feels that the platform has emerged into one of the most productive and beneficial curriculums WMCI and WYDOC has to offer.

“It took a little while to get it up and running, but it’s not an uncommon thing in prison,” Martin began. “I’ve worked in various prison systems in different states, and each one has a variety of programs. Braille is a popular program for correctional industries within the prison systems, simply because the cost in doing so enables agencies, or entities, to offer braille products to the disabled at a reasonable price.”

When it came to the discussion of paid labor for an incarcerated individual, Martin was convincing and passionate about the topic. Despite various controversies surrounding paid inmate labor, Martin feels inmates learning how to read and produce authentic braille product is a fantastic way to keep them engaged with productivity, and learn a rare but much needed trade.

When those two elements are combined, the chance of success once released back into society goes up tremendously.

“It’s not an uncommon thing in prison, the inmate labor pool,” Martin continued. “The inmates are not typically paid, and there is some controversy about whether they should be or not. However, they are not paid competitive wages compared to an individual on the street to do a braille interpretation or product. The industry we have can be very dedicated to producing and learning these products while they are incarcerated. That’s why Torrington and Wyoming is a great program that has grown steadily. We have contracts with a variety of organizations including the Library of Congress to translate printed material, graphics, and music into braille.”

According to the WMCI, the concept started with two inmates who had in fact become certified braille translators. The inmates would then become heavily involved with the persuasive stage of the program by writing and engaging with individuals working for WYDOC, the Wyoming State Legislation and even Wyoming State Senators.

The entire goal of the program was to show how braille could become a beneficial asset to the correctional industry, as well as providing affordable products to those who are visually impaired.

Furthermore according to Martin, the entire program brings peace both in and out of the prison walls.

“Our goal is to really articulate to them what an employer is looking for,” Martin said. “I can tell you anecdotally that I’ve spoken with most of the inmates, not all but I can tell you this. There was a girl over in Teton County who was blind, and we were doing a curriculum for her. Those guys were so jacked up and proud to watch her develop, and did it for a number of years. They were so engaged with the tangibility of their work with people who need that assistance. When they can do specific work for an individual like that one lady in Teton, that really gets them going and they definitely enjoy it. If you can keep them intellectually engaged and productively occupied, the prison becomes much easier to manage rather than having inmates sitting around with idol hands creating drama and problems.”

Martin continued with sincerity that although the program is highly positive and beneficial to all involved, it is always a wise notion to remember who and where everyone is given the incomparable environment.

“We manage prison risk,” Martin continued. “Things can be risky and we are not ignorant of that, but the undying purpose is preparing them to be the people they want to be. That’s what we do. They like to keep these jobs, and just jobs in general in a prison environment. It’s a set of responsibilities that are theirs, it gets them away from their cells and any association with drama in prison. It gets them away and separated from all of that, and allows them to be responsible in something. I think we track a higher level of intellect for braille workers, and I think that’s very evident.”

Despite an ongoing public stigma that inmates perhaps should not be paid for any sort of labor, or maybe shouldn’t even be given a second chance in society; Martin was adamant on behalf of the men serving time at WMCI.

According to Martin, giving one their dignity at all times is a robust recipe for future success.

After all, an eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.

“In this industry we have a saying that they are sent to prison as punishment, not for punishment. We are not there to make their life difficult. Our job is to prepare them. Over 90 percent are returning to their communities. The state of Wyoming spends a great deal of resources on them to go out and be different people. To be someone different than who they were when they went to prison. Soon enough they are going to move in next door. If they are going to go somewhere and take a lead or contribution role in a product that is meaningful, you are treating them as what they are: they are human beings. They are entitled to certain dignities, and they should feel those dignities. Even though they are in prison, they have an opportunity to contribute something larger than themselves. We get tremendous support from Goshen County and the city of Torrington for our program here. It’s good to know that you have a good community relationship, and it goes both ways. In Wyoming and many rural states, people sometimes want people to be punished. Sometimes there is a mentality that they should never get out of prison. Some shouldn’t, but most of them are and will. We think the best public policy is to prepare them, and give them the opportunities to change. So that when they return they can be changed.”

If you would like more information or have further questions regarding the WMCI or WYDOC, feel free to visit www.wyo.corretions.gov or call 307-532-6600.