Structured Living Program

Mission Statement

To provide inmates a voluntary Structured Living Environment which facilitates pro-social behavior and teaches positive, non-criminal values through cognitive learning programs, team building exercises, drill and ceremony, and physical training; and by positively reinforcing these values once instilled in inmates via a set of established rewards as they progress toward achieving these goals.

Description

The Nevada Department of Corrections (NDOC) Structured Living Program (SLP) at the Lovelock Correctional Center (LCC), a 1,632 bed medium security institution, is the first of its kind in the state of Nevada.  Since it's inception in April, 1999, the program has a completion rate of 81%, with a current enrollment of 207 active participants. Due to the success of this program, on June 13,2001, the Nevada State Legislature passed Senate Bill No.4 , which provides for the establishment of SLP programs in all institutions in Nevada.

Participation begins at the Orientation Level for the initial 10 weeks when inmates first arrive. After successful completion, the inmates may continue for six (6) months at Level II and then continue on to Level I.  Success through the initial and second phase enables the participant to receive Work Credits, Meritorious Credits and an accelerated advancement to the next level.  During participation the inmate's attend various classes, programs, education, work, physical fitness training, drill and ceremonies.

SLP initially started as a 10 week military-style institutional orientation program, however, it became so popular with inmates enrolled in the program that they actually opted to stay at the lowest level of institutional privilege (Level 4) at LCC to remain enrolled in SLP. The inmates' own dedication to the program inadvertently provided a management tool where inmates' behavior toward their peers created the safe environment necessary to work on the changes they want to make in their lives. For this reason, LCC expanded SLP housing to 3 units to keep SLP platoon groups together while affording them all institutional levels of privilege.