New Mexico Prison Program Trains Inmates to Care for Shelter Dogs

The dog training program at Central New Mexico Correctional Facility aims to teach empathy and reduce recidivism.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 9:39pm

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Inside a New Mexico prison, inmates are given the opportunity to train and care for shelter dogs as part of a program that teaches empathy, provides stress relief, and helps prepare them for life after release. The program is highly competitive, with 27 inmates currently participating, and is one of many initiatives offered by the New Mexico Corrections Department to reduce the state's high recidivism rate.

Why it matters

The dog training program is part of the state's efforts to lower its recidivism rate, which has historically been well above the national average. By providing inmates with skills, purpose, and a sense of responsibility, the program aims to give them a better chance at successful reintegration into society upon release.

The details

Inmates like Justin Stone and Raul Rodriguez spend their days training and caring for puppies from local shelters. The program not only teaches them empathy and patience, but also provides stress relief and a sense of purpose during their sentences. The dogs are then adopted out to families, giving the inmates a sense of accomplishment. Other programs at the facility, such as a gardening initiative, also provide inmates with hands-on learning and the opportunity to give back to the community.

  • The dog training program has been running at the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility for several years.
  • In recent years, New Mexico's recidivism rate has dropped from nearly 50% to 36.7%, though it did rise up to nearly 40% in 2024.

The players

Justin Stone

An inmate at the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility who is one of 27 inmates participating in the dog training program. He has trained multiple dogs, including a German shepherd puppy named Millie, and is considering becoming a professional dog handler or joining a volunteer program upon his release.

Raul Rodriguez

An inmate at the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility who is caring for and training an Australian cattle dog puppy named Copper as part of the facility's dog training program. Rodriguez says the program brings him joy and helps relieve the stress of being incarcerated.

Alisha Tafoya Lucero

The Secretary of the New Mexico Corrections Department, who oversees the various programs offered to inmates, including the dog training initiative, with the goal of reducing the state's high recidivism rate.

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What they’re saying

“It's nice knowing that I'm preparing these animals for success. They get to go to a family, go to a home. It holds its own benefits.”

— Justin Stone, Inmate

“This is a blessing. It takes a lot of the stress away from being locked up. Half the time, you're not thinking about being locked up because your attention is on the dog.”

— Raul Rodriguez, Inmate

“We do lots of work to bridge the gap between incarceration and community to do everything that we can.”

— Alisha Tafoya Lucero, Corrections Secretary

What’s next

The New Mexico Corrections Department plans to continue expanding the dog training program and other initiatives aimed at reducing recidivism and helping inmates successfully reintegrate into society.

The takeaway

The dog training program at the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility is a unique and impactful initiative that provides inmates with a sense of purpose, teaches them empathy, and helps prepare them for life after release - all while reducing the state's high recidivism rate. This program is a model for how prisons can offer meaningful rehabilitation opportunities to incarcerated individuals.