Illinois Department of Corrections Launches Service Dog Training Program at Shawnee Correctional Center
Shawnee, IL) – Today, the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) and Illinois Correctional Industries (ICI) announced a new service dog training program at Shawnee Correctional Center (Shawnee CC) in partnership with SIT Service Dogs (SIT). Launched this week, the new program will provide individuals in custody with the opportunity to help raise and train puppies that will eventually become service dogs for individuals with disabilities and others in need of specialized assistance nationwide.
The first program cohort includes 16 IDOC trainers and 9 Labrador Retriever puppies. Program participants were selected through a competitive application, interview, and evaluation process that prioritizes individuals serving extended sentences who demonstrate strong suitability for the program, responsibility, and commitment and can meet the demands of caring for and training a future service dog. Trainers in the program will work closely with SIT staff and volunteers to assist with socialization, obedience training, and daily care of service dog candidates. Through this experience, IDOC trainers will develop valuable skills in communication, responsibility, teamwork, and problem-solving, while completing a U.S. Department of Labor animal trainer apprenticeship and contributing to a mission that positively impacts the lives of others.
“Launching this program at Shawnee Correctional Center is an investment in growth, responsibility, and community,” said Brandon Anthony, Warden, Shawnee Correctional Center. “We are grateful for our partnership with SIT Service Dogs and proud of the staff whose dedication made this opportunity possible. By giving participants the responsibility of caring for and training these dogs, we are fostering patience, discipline, and a sense of purpose that strengthens our entire facility while contributing to a program that will ultimately improve lives across the country.”
Over the course of the 25-week program, program participants will provide daily care, socialization, and foundational training under the direction of SIT staff. Each IDOC trainer will be assigned a specific dog while also participating in collaborative training exercises, workshops, and group learning activities designed to promote consistency, teamwork, and accountability. Upon graduating from the SIT program at Shawnee CC, the dogs will return to SIT for an additional year of advanced public access and client-specific task training. By the time they are matched with a service dog partner, each dog will have completed more than 2,000 hours of comprehensive training.