After committing a crime offenders are sentenced to prison to hopefully teach them a lesson...

At the James River Correctional Center in Jamestown inmates are working on a special project training service dogs.

As Donnell Preskey reports its more than a job for the inmates...

It may be the last place you'd expect to see a dog... But at the James River Correctional Center in Jamestown pooches are behind bars for training...

18 inmates at the minimum security prison are training service dogs..

They work with the dogs on the basics..

choca sit..

come heel... And on more advanced commands that could mean this dog saving someone's life... (Keal Marson II) "In reality she would have a pack with a cord hanging off it for a person with seizures or medical issues and tell her "help me" pull the cord and it will trigger a radio response to call for help." (help me nat) Marson also works with Holly to teach her how to open handicap accessible doors..

(bump nat) Sure the dogs get rewarded when they do a good job... that's expected..

What's not is the reward inmates get out of this... (Ramone) joined becase I enjoy dogs but after the first dog I was with I've heard the things about what he's doing with the girl he went with and it feels good to know you helped train her." "For my whole life, i've been a selfish person and now I realize that I'm giving back and helping someone." I haven't done a lot of good in my life and knowing that i've done something good that's going to help someone.... is pheonominal..

That someone is Norman Day junior.

(Norman) i have no ability to sit up, so he'll hold for me so I can push off on him

Norman is here from Nebraska to finish working with Booster..

(Norman) I asked Booster if he wanted to go home with me looked at me then tail started wagging and that told me he wanted to go i think he'll be a good dog..

(Chris) Booster helps him pulling through grass in his wheelchair and turning on and off lights, pulling socks off, drop keys pick them up for him

All things Danielson helped Booster learn... (Chris) "It's been phenominal how much of a difference the dogs have made in my life..." Not a sentencing requirement but a bonus...

The inmates say training the dogs helps relieve stress, makes their sentence go by faster and teaches them patience and understanding. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list