Newtown Rotarians Go To Prison ––

To Visit That Is

Newtown Rotarians learned a lot about the inner workings of the Garner Correctional Institution when it held its regular Monday night meeting there. Theresa Lantz, the newly appointed State Commissioner of Correctional Facilities at Garner Correctional Institution, and Warden Giovanny Gomez spoke about the operations of the prison. The Rotary Club was then broken into two groups to tour the prison.

Commissioner Lantz has been in the correctional facilities profession for 37 years and with the Connecticut Department of Corrections for the last 14 years. She was appointed state commissioner in March.

Garner is listed as a class four security prison (class 5 being the highest). Steps taken since it was built have resulted in a well-run, well-organized institution. Rotarians left with a feeling that it is in good hands and operated efficiently.

The organization of the meeting at Garner was handled by Rotarian Chris Hoeffel and the group was very pleased that Commissioner Lantz traveled to Garner to take part in the visit.