The US Disciplinary Barracks is our military’s only Level III maximum security prison. The USDB sits on the post at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.
Sergeant Major Daniel Dodds is retiring as the Director of Operations Sergeant Major for the US Disciplinary Barracks. He joins us to share some history of the institution and discuss their reform and rehabilitation programs.
Prior to construction of the USDB, military prisoners were held at various stockades and state penitentiaries scattered around the county. Then Army Major Thomas Barr recognized this resulted in standards and discipline varying greatly across the system. He led the initiative to construct one central facility and is considered “the father” of the US military prison. Construction began in 1875, with most of the work conducted by the prisoners themselves. Sometimes “branch” locations were added, including the famous Alcatraz prison.
During the Second World War, the USDB housed as many as 34,000 prisoners, including German and Italian Prisoners of War. Fourteen of the German POW’s were executed for murdering other German prisoners they suspected were cooperating with the US authorities. They are buried in some of the 300 graves in the facility’s cemetery along with 56 unmarked graves.
Many of the original barracks were demolished in 2004 and replaced with a new, state of the art facility that is accredited through the American Correctional Association. Sergeant Major Dodds emphasizes that rehabilitation is a critical part of their mission. He says ninety percent of the inmates convicted in the military are going to be released someday. The military wants them to be productive citizens when they are released and dedicates significant resources to preparing inmates to successfully return to the civilian population. Programs include vocational training, psychological and pastoral counseling.
TAKEAWAY: The USDB’s barber college is recognized as one of the best in the US.