Orange Correctional Center (OCC) is a well-run unit.
Our team of volunteers and staff oversee programs which help men successfully reenter society. Four reasons to keep OCC open:

1) Financial: In 2010 $6mil of state funds were used to build and open a state-of-the-art segregation unit.
Shortly thereafter, a group of 50+ congregations (w/ more than 1000 individuals) built a $350k Peace Center—a chapel for weekly:
-Christian worship services, fellowship, and four Bible studies.
-Worship and study services for five other faith groups.

2) Volunteer involvement: Though OCC houses only 220 men, we have over 400 volunteers who come regularly from Orange, Alamance, and Durham counties. The volunteers engage in:
--religious programming.
--tutoring .
--re-entry work (AA and NA meet weekly, a “pre-release” committee meets monthly, and “re-entry partners” meet quarterly).

3) Transition/skill programs: OCC has two full-time teachers from Piedmont Community College who teach the skills of carpentry and culinary arts.
OCC has supervision for 40 men who work, full-time in community businesses.

4) Staff: OCC has 74 employees coming from the following counties:
Alamance-20, Durham-19, Orange-10, Caswell-6, Guilford-6, Person-5, Granville-3, Rockingham-1, and 2 from VA (with 2 openings).