PLYMOUTH— On Wednesday, November 5th, Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph D. McDonald Jr. congratulated 27 residents of Plymouth County for completing his third Citizen Sheriff’s Academy.

Look for news of an upcoming Citizen Sheriff’s Academy in the spring

PLYMOUTH— Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph D. McDonald Jr. is inviting the public to the first Harvest Festival at the Plymouth County Farm on Saturday, October 4, 2008 from 10am to 2pm.

After tremendous success this spring with the department’s Arbor Day celebration, Sheriff McDonald and staff found a comparable fall celebration would be an appropriate way to show off this gem of a county resource.

“The farm will morph into a sort of pumpkin palooza on October 4th,” Sheriff McDonald explained.

“The day will showcase our mums, pumpkins, petting zoo animals and give families a chance to make memories watching canine and mounted unit demonstrations or just painting a pumpkin to take home.”

Deputies will be on hand to fingerprint children. Tours of the farm will be available as well as free t-shirts for kids while they last. Rainforest Reptiles of Beverly, MA will present a special show at 11am.

There is a new addition to the Petting Zoo this fall; a pair of alpacas has joined the herd of cows, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, rabbits, and mini horses. Though most of our petting zoo animals appreciate snacks, alpacas Dean and Sammy, are on strict diets.

Special event times:

Rainforest Reptile Show 11am

K-9 Demonstration 1pm

Find the farm off Rt. 3, exit 5 on Obery Street in Plymouth. The farm is open daily 8am to 4pm. There is a rain date of October 11th.

PCCF Superintendent Brian Gillen [center] receives the accreditation certificate along with PCCF’s [L to R] ADS of Operations Stephen Ottino and Director of Program Management Paul Chiano.

PLYMOUTH— It’s a near perfect score for the Plymouth County Correctional Facility. At its annual conference in New Orleans this month, the American Correctional Association awarded accreditation to the Plymouth Jail and House of Correction.

PCCF scored 100 percent on the mandatory portion of ACA’s audit and 99 percent on the non-mandatory. The final point was deducted because standards call for larger cells.

“This is as close to perfect as this facility can get. I am exceeding proud of the entire staff; once again they’ve made me look good, this time on a national level. ACA does not take accreditation lightly,” Sheriff Joseph D. McDonald Jr. said.

Superintendent Brian Gillen calls the award validation PCCF is increasing the quality of care and confinement; “Bottom line- inmates and staff feel safe in an accredited facility.”

Also, winning high marks - the department’s commitment to security, recent expansion of the medical department and PCCF’s substance abuse and violence prevention immersion programs.

“ACA recognized our innovation. The association is clearly not seeing these programs from every facility,” Director of Programs Paul Chiano said.

ADS of Operations Stephen Ottino noted it’s gratifying to be recognized by ACA, “All the hard work becomes worth it.”

PCCF will be up for re-accreditation with ACA in 2011.

Return applications by September 2nd to:

Public Information Office
24 Long Pond Road
Plymouth, MA 02360
Call 508-830-6264 for more information.

Correction Educaton Association "Rocks" Plymouth
May 22, 2008

The Plymouth County Correctional Facility’s team of educators presented five workshops over the course of the conference. L to R: Marie Drysdale, Carol Dignan, Connie Cardillo-Backoff, Nancy Powell, Rena Almeida, Grisella Rosado, and Kathryn Panza. Not pictured: Tara Smith, Kristin Hall, and Meghan Gonsalves.

PLYMOUTH— The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department helped welcome 350 members of the Correction Education Association to town recently for a three-day conference at the Radisson.
The conference committee, which included Sheriff’s Department Education Coordinator Connie Cardillo-Backoff, used historic Plymouth Rock as a theme for the teachers in attendance.

Attendees, forced to imagine the rock as portico renovation is underway, were encouraged to be rocks themselves. The inmates in their classes should be able to turn to the educators to find a strong, solid base for learning.

“It’s a job not recognized enough, and I thank all of you for the outstanding work you do everyday,” Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph D. McDonald Jr. noted during the closing breakfast.

“You make your sheriffs and administrators look good by sending these inmates back into the community with new knowledge and skills.”

Reverend Jeffrey Lamont Brown of the Union Baptist Church in Cambridge echoed Sheriff McDonald’s sentiment, teachers “help knit communities back together.”

Educators from New England, the Canadian Maritimes, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania were in attendance.

“I hope you have a better understanding of this department’s resources and how those resources supplement public safety officials in your communities,” Sheriff McDonald said.

The 10-week course included a stop inside a place the public hears little about, the Plymouth County Correctional Facility.

“If you don’t hear about the jail again, you can rest assure the correction officers are doing exemplary work,” Sheriff McDonald noted.

The group also participated in the County Farm’s Arbor Day celebration; learned about use of force, tactical response, crisis negotiation and the Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation.