ODRC - Mansfield Correctional Institution (MANCI)

ODRC - Mansfield Correctional Institution (MANCI) basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 419-525-4455

The inmates housed at Mansfield Correctional located at 1150 N Main St in Mansfield, OH are placed according to their custody level (determined by a number of factors including the past criminal history and the length of their sentence). There are ample educational and vocational training programs for all inmates, especially ones that show a willingness to learn new things that will prepare them for a better life when they are released. The mission is to promote and prepare the offender to leave in better shape than when they arrived, giving them the best chance to never come back and thus lower the state's recidivism rate.

MCI is a close custody state prison that incarcerates close custody inmates for the ODRC and also is responsible for operating a minimum custody camp within the grounds. Inmates in the camp work the institution's farming operation. This facility is currently operating over capacity and houses around 2,680 inmates. This facility participates in the prison industries program and operates a box factory, a computer data entry operation and a YUSAshop responsible for deflashing and cleaning parts used by Honda. An additional program run at this facility allows inmates to work training dogs that are up for adoption. Mansfield Correctional offers vocational training in horticulture, masonry, carpentry, tailoring, landscaping, plumbing, machine operator, machine setter, stitcher, welding, electrical and HVAC. These vocational courses are offered to inmates so they may learn a new skill they can use for employment once they are released. Additional beneficial programs inmates can participate in are the adult basic literacy education program and a GED program.

Unique Programs

OPI - Ohio Penal Industries has two productive shops located at the Mansfield Correctional Institution. The Box Factory, originally established at the Lima Correctional Institution in 1984, was relocated to Mansfield in April 2004. This factory produces cardboard boxes for various state agencies. Two of the most popular items are Record Storage cartons and Meat Processing Career Center cartons. The factory currently employs 30 inmates. The YUSA Shop cleans and deflashes parts used by Honda. This shop provides employment for 150 inmates. Inmates are assimilated to a real work environment as they must fill out an application and be interviewed. Once hired, they receive an hourly wage and can be promoted with wage increases. Inmates are required to punch a time clock and maintain certain criteria to maintain employment.

The Tender Loving Dog Care Program, which began in 1998 in partnership with the Ashland County Humane Society, was set up so that dogs, which would have previously euthanized, could be brought into the institution and taught basic skills such as housebreaking and social skills. These dogs are trained by inmate handlers and ultimately are adopted by the public - to include staff and inmate's families. Since the start of the program, inmates have been affected quite positively. The dogs have helped to create a much calmer environment throughout the prison. Presently over 500 dogs have been trained and adopted to good, caring homes. On average, the T.L.D.C. program carries 20 to 25 dogs to be cared for and trained at one given time. The program adopts dogs out at a fee of $125 per dog. These funds are used to go toward veterinarian bills, shots/medication, food, shelter, leashes, collars, and toys.

Reading Room - The reading rooms encourage family literacy by providing a pleasant and comfortable setting for both child and incarcerated parent. Each room is stocked with a wide variety of children’s books and has an inmate narrator who reads to the visiting children twice a day. The role of the inmate narrator is to read picture books to the children in much the same manner that children’s hour would be done at a public library. A variety of arts and craft supplies for the children are also available in most of the rooms. Many of the supplies and books are donated by employees and service organizations.

Offender Programs

Community Services

• Tender Loving Dog Care
• ODOT Trash Pickup
• Growing Vegetables for Local Food Banks
• Malabar Farms - Farm Equipment Maintenance
• Church of Christ in Marion - Building Benches, Planters, etc.
• Ashland County Extension - Making Lamb Stands
• Air National Guard - Mowing
• Mid-Ohio Education Service - Foam Dice for Tutoring

Academic

• Adult Basic Education (ABLE)
• Pre-GED
• GED
• High School Options

Apprenticeship Programs

• Alteration Tailor
• Boiler Operator
• Carpenter, Maintenance
• Carpenter, Residential
• Cook (any industry)
• Electrical Maintenance
• Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
• Janitor
• Landscape Management Technician
• Laundry Machine Mechanic
• Machine Operator 1
• Machine Setter
• Plumber
• Quality Control Inspector
• Recovery Operator
• Stitcher
• Welder, Combination

Education Services

• Computer Aided Instructional Laboratories (CAIL)
• Correctional Education Association (CEA) Tutor Training
• Ohio Reentry Connections
• Special Education Services
• Library Services

Career-Technical (Vocational) Programs

• Horticulture
• Masonry

Advanced Jobs Training Program

• Ashland University