With more than 2 million people behind bars, the United States has the largest incarcerated population in the world, but in a growing number of American prisons, inmates are doing more than just time. They are rearing endangered plants, animals and butterflies for release in the wild.
Inmates Raise Endangered Plants
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Inmate Joseph Njonge at work in the Stafford Creek Corrections Center conservation nursery. (Tom Banse/VOA)
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Inmate Toby Erhart sows Harsh Indian Paintbrush seeds in the Stafford Creek Corrections Center conservation nursery. (Tom Banse/VOA)
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Inmate Don Snook trained "Smokey" the poodle as part of a program to make shelter dogs destined to be euthanized instead suitable for adoption. (Tom Banse/VOA)
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"Dolly" waits for her handler to return from lunch. This rescued shelter dog graduated from a training program at the Stafford Creek prison and has since been adopted. (Tom Banse/VOA)