Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2003
(Columbus) – Today Governor Bob Taft joined Ohio
Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Director Reginald A. Wilkinson at
the opening of the Ohio Penal Industries (OPI) Trade Show, “Creating New
Enterprises and Partnerships in Ohio State Government.”
The purpose of the event was to educate consumers of
the advantages of purchasing goods and services from state government agencies
and to highlight OPI and the products that are manufactured in Ohio’s prisons.
“I’m confident this trade show will create new
partnerships and reinforce the importance and numerous advantages of using OPI,”
Taft said. “Choosing OPI is not only good for state agencies, but it teaches
inmates the important skills they need to succeed in the job market once they
are released.”
Other benefits of the OPI Industrial Training Program
were highlighted in Director Wilkinson’s comments. “Research has shown that
prisoners who leave Ohio’s facilities after working for OPI during their
incarceration are 18% less likely to return to prison than inmates who did
not,” explained Director Wilkinson. “That, I think, speaks volumes to the
quality of the marketable work skills and improves sense of self-worth they are
gaining and truly highlights the primary mission of the Department –
rehabilitation of Ohio’s adult felony offenders.”
Following the ribbon cutting to open the tradeshow,
Governor Taft and Director Wilkinson toured many of the booths to learn more
about the products and services available through OPI and other trade show
participants including Ohio Industries for the Handicapped, the Ohio Departments
of Mental Health and Natural Resources as well as the Office of Support
Services.
For more information, please contact the DRC Bureau
of Public Information at (614) 752-1150.