Lancaster County introduces Valor, a facility dog for corrections staff wellness

Chair Krista Yocum introduced Valor, the new facility dog assigned to Lancaster County Corrections, at the board's Sept. 29 meeting. Department of Corrections Director Brad Johnson said Guide Dogs of America paid for Valor's travel, training and handler support, and the county's initial plan is to use the dog primarily for staff well-being with potential to expand to limited inmate programming.

"So, we were able to go out there earlier in the spring," Director Brad Johnson said, describing the partnership with Guide Dogs of America. Sergeant John Lewis, one of Valor's handlers, described early examples of the dog's effect on staff and on one incarcerated person who became visibly moved by seeing another dog: "He comes on rounds with me the other day in a housing unit. A guy broke down because he hadn't seen his dog and since he'd been in. And so Valor just being there and him seeing another dog was big for him." Chair Krista Yocum thanked staff and said she had seen therapy dogs help employees in other settings.

Why it matters: county corrections staff described high-demand, stressful working conditions; the board and corrections leadership framed Valor as a relatively low-cost approach to improving staff morale and providing a calming presence in housing units. Guide Dogs of America covering training and placement reduced direct county expense for the program. Lancaster County did not adopt any new policy at the meeting; the item was an introduction and briefing.

Next steps: staff said Valor currently works night watch with a goal of more daytime presence as schedules allow. The county will report on longer-term usage and any program expansion in future meetings.