Fort Pierce, FL, November 10, 2009 – ARAMARK Correctional Services has announced that its partnership with the St. Lucie County Jail has been extended for an additional five-year period, plus three separate one-year contracts. ARAMARK was originally selected by county officials in 2002 to provide foodservice, and it has worked closely with the sheriff’s department to build several programs that benefit both the facility and the community at large.
“Our partnership with ARAMARK is second to none. The ARAMARK managers and staff are an integral part of the overall operations of the Sheriff’s Office,” said Major Patrick Tighe of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office. “We are all on one team working together toward a common goal when it comes to successful management of the jail facility and its programs. I would like to recognize the level of commitment from the local ARAMARK managers all of the way up to its president.”
“I am pleased that we are able to continue what has been a true partnership with the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office,” said Tim Campbell, president of ARAMARK Correctional Services. “We were able to develop several service solutions for the jail going forward, which should result in an environment in which corrections officers are even better equipped to do their jobs in operating the most sound and secure facility possible.”
ARAMARK provides daily meals for the jail’s 1,400 inmates and correctional staff, as well as commissary offerings and vending selections. In addition, ARAMARK operates the facility’s Meals on Wheels program for those in need in the community, and manages its IN2WORK inmate culinary training program.
IN2WORK was created by ARAMARK to answer the need for offender-training programs at no additional cost to taxpayers. The program provides inmates with job training and industry-recognized certification in foodservice, which qualifies them for meaningful employment when they leave the institution. The goal of IN2WORK is to reduce recidivism rates among offenders by preparing them for a more productive life when they return to society. Since its implementation at the jail in 2007, over 125 inmates have successfully graduated from the St. Lucie County IN2WORK program, and its students have catered special events for local groups and organizations.
“These services are provided with a high level of professionalism and always with a sensitivity of the security operations within the jail,” added Major Tighe. “I believe our partnership with ARAMARK is really a model for others to follow.”
About ARAMARK Correctional Services
Through its Correctional Services group, ARAMARK provides a wide range of food, facility and other support solutions to more than 600 correctional facilities in North America. ACS prepares 380,000,000 meals annually and offers state, county and city correctional facilities a single source provider for food service management, commissary services, inmate training, laundry management, facilities management and community-based Meals on Wheels programs. With nearly 30 years experience serving Corrections, Public Safety and Community Services institutions, ACS is the oldest and largest provider of managed service solutions in these markets.
About ARAMARK
ARAMARK is a leader in professional services, providing award-winning food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel to health care institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses around the world. In FORTUNE magazine's 2009 list of "World's Most Admired Companies," ARAMARK was ranked number one in its industry, consistently ranking since 1998 as one of the top three most admired companies in its industry as evaluated by peers and analysts. ARAMARK seeks to responsibly address issues that matter to its clients, customers, employees and communities by focusing on employee advocacy, environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and community involvement. Headquartered in Philadelphia, ARAMARK has approximately 260,000 employees serving clients in 22 countries. Learn more at www.twitter.com/aramarknews.
Contacts:
Laura Temple
215.238.6841
temple-laura@aramark.com