The CNMI Department of Corrections and Indigenous Affairs Office joined forces to maintain an ancient latte site on Saipan. Inmates from the CNMI Department of Corrections’ Community Outreach Program are cleaning up the islands’ sacred sites as part of a collaboration with the Indigenous Affairs Office.

Ross Manglona with the Indigenous Affairs Office, said, "If you are Indigenous and you run into situations like that, it is not over. There is always rehabilitation."

Anthony Torres, Commissioner, Dept. of Corrections, said, "They’re hitting both parts of our mission for the DOC which is rehabilitation through operational excellence."

The department heads want to grow the partnership into more vocational programs as part of rehabilitation. The Kagman project started in the previous administration and they’re carrying it on. "These are important sites for our people and with austerity in place and what not it was kind enough for DOC to take hold and do the heavy lifting, if you will," he said.

The community outreach program does that heavy lifting and has been hard at work for several years to keep inmates engaged.

Officer Swain Cangco with the DOC Outreach Program said, "Where it is at right now is where it should be. We struggled in the past building it but the outcome and all the hard work and dedication has been put into it and it grew to a level where it is unexplainable."

Sergeant Jeffrey Quitugua noted, "We have total five sites of the latte to go on and do more clean up for tourists if they come down to see our latte sites and as my partner mentioned this is good also for our inmates to learn their past, their ancestors, their culture."