BLOOMINGDALE — Belmont Correctional Institution visited the Jefferson County JVS criminal justice program and conducted a presentation on the Lucasville, Ohio, prison riot and attended the skills competition by the students.

Warden Shelbie Smith along with other staff attended the day-long event. Former Warden Art Tate also visited and conducted the presentation. While speaking to the students about his career, Tate had the full attention of the students, who seemed impressed and were full of questions.

Tate said, “I really enjoyed visiting the school and speaking to the young people about not only the career options in the criminal justice field, but also the importance of making good decisions in general and to learn to better ourselves even when mistakes are made.”

Jamie Freeman, criminal justice Instructor at the JVS, said, “I really enjoyed the day and really appreciate all who participated. The students were very impressed and were still talking about it later in the week.”

BeCI and the JVS partnered a few years ago and started an immersion program. The program informs the students about the multiple job/career opportunities at BeCI and is a recruitment opportunity to encourage the students in a career in corrections.The week-long program involves the students visiting, touring and learning at the institution. This is the first year that Smith and her staff visited the campus of the JVS.

Smith said, “The immersion program with the JVS is very important to BeCI, not only for recruitment purposes, but also for creating community partners involving young people. BeCI intends to make this program better and to add to it.”