NH INSIDER

Concord, NH -The New Hampshire Department of Corrections announces that Corrections Creations, the inmate hobbycraft and retail store, will open the next three Saturdays for the holiday shopping season.  In addition to its regular Tuesday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. schedule, the store will be open December 5, December 12, and December 19, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Corrections Creations is located at 314 North State Street in Concord, which is approximately a half mile north of the New Hampshire State Prison.  The store sells inmate made products including woodworking, crafts, paintings, sewn goods, and many other unique items.  The store accepts checks or credit cards only. No cash is accepted. All financial transactions are handled by Department of Corrections employees.

The phone number at the store is 603-271-1933.  Information is also available on the web at http://www.nh.gov/nhdoc/nhci/c_creations/.

(Goffstown, NH)  Since 2006, Beth Richeson has provided chaplaincy and other support to the inmates at the New Hampshire State Prison for Women.  In August she became an ordained Presbyterian Minister and the women’s prison became her mission.  On Tuesday, October 6, 2009, nearly one hundred inmates joined Chaplain Richeson for a celebration of her ordination.

The ceremony included music performed by the inmate choir, inmate testimonials, and reflections from other religious leaders.  New Hampshire Department of Corrections Commissioner William L. Wrenn congratulated “Chaplain Beth” and said he was honored to have her in the Department’s midst and to recognize her accomplishment.

Commissioner Wrenn said, “She meets the inmates on the playing field without pre-conceived notions and has a boundless capacity for compassion.”

The inmates collected scraps of fabric together and sewed those into a vesting that was presented to the Chaplain.

The position is funded by the New Hampshire Council of Churches and not the Department of Corrections. The Chaplain is a non-denominational position that works with all faiths to facilitate and provide spiritual support to the inmate population.

(Berlin, NH) The New Hampshire Department of Corrections announces that an inmate work crew is assisting the New Hampshire Trails Bureau to build a new recreation trail within Jericho Mountain State Park in Berlin. A supervised crew of ten to twelve minimum security inmates from the Northern New Hampshire Correctional Facility in Berlin started work on the project in June. They are cutting trees, clearing brush, clearing the beaches, and raking leaves.

Corrections Commissioner William L. Wrenn said, “This is a positive way for offenders to give back to the community while opening up opportunities for outdoor recreation enthusiasts.”

The work crew is under the supervision of a certified Corrections Officer at all times and the facility attempts to bring the crew to the site several times a week.

The 150 mile multi-purpose trail could take several years to complete and will include scenic views, camping and boating accessibility. According to Christopher J. Gamache, Supervisor of Off-Highway Recreational Vehicles for the Trails Bureau, the Jericho Trail project is receiving additional volunteer assistance from local snowmobile/ATV clubs.

(Concord, NH) Inmates finishing their prison sentences at the New Hampshire State Prison for Men no longer leave in their prison uniforms thanks to a new cooperative program with the Catholic Diocese of New Hampshire and spearheaded by Unit Manager Kathleen Anderson. Corrections Commissioner William L. Wrenn announced that several Catholic parishes are donating all sizes of clothing that can be provided to inmates who reach their maximum release date.

“This initiative saves taxpayer dollars, promotes public safety, and assists inmates returning to the community. We are truly grateful to the Catholic Diocese and all who support this program for their assistance,” Commissioner Wrenn said.

It saves tax dollars because each time an inmate leaves with his prison uniform there is a cost to the Department. It promotes public safety because New Hampshire citizens can respond in unpredictable ways if they see an unsupervised individual wearing a prison uniform in their communities. The inmate receives a more positive response when he goes on a job interview or apartment hunting than he might while wearing a prison uniform.

Inmates who exit from a transitional housing unit normally wear street clothes but inmates that reach the maximum release date of their sentence do not have that opportunity.

Approximately two hundred inmates leave prison annually upon reaching their maximum release date.

Concord, NH The New Hampshire Department of Corrections announces that a minimum security male inmate is reported missing from the Transitional Work Center in Concord. John J. Considine, 27, of Nashua, was not present for the 3:30 p.m. population count on May 24, 2009 and was placed on walkaway status.

Inmate Considine is a 5 feet 10 inches tall, 140 pounds, with a light complexion, with short brown hair and blue eyes. He has tattoos on his upper right arm, left arm, back, and neck.

He is was convicted in Hillsborough County Superior Court on two counts of being a habitual offender and is serving 1 - 5 years and a concurrent 2 ½ - 6 year sentence. He was eligible for parole on January 31, 2009 with a projected parole date release date of July 31, 2009.

Security procedures aimed at apprehending this individual have been implemented. The New Hampshire Department of Corrections and New Hampshire State Police are investigating. Anyone with information on his whereabouts should report it to a local law enforcement agency.