Students from Junior Reserve Law Enforcement Program Visit FCC Coleman

More than 40 students from Orange County’s Lake Nona High School’s Junior Reserve Law Enforcement program visited the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County.  They were joined on the tour by more than 20 staff members, chaperones, and presenters. Warden Shannon D. Withers of FCC Coleman welcomed participants and provided an overview of the complex’s operations. Correctional Officer Gannon then directed participants to key sites throughout the complex. The tour included students from 11^th and 12^th grade classes and provided a wide-ranging view and understanding of the criminal justice system. Topics highlighted during the tour included professional pathways to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Courts, and the Department of Justice. Students were engaged in conversations on the importance of ethics, reentry, and restorative justice. Staff members also helped dispel myths and stereotypes that may exist about prisons, offenders, and those working in this system. In addition to USAO staff, other presenters included the U.S. Probation Office, the Office of the Federal Public Defender, and the Get It Straight Foundation.