Ace the labrador is keeping the violence down at the Rikers Island, New York City's main jail complex.
Rikers Island has recently experienced a rise in stabbings at the facility and is considered one of the most violent jails in the system.
To combat the rise in violence, a new program was started that requires a group of 15 inmates to take care of Ace, reported New York Daily News. The group of inmates are responsible for teaching him basic commands, his grooming, and bringing him on walks.
Since Ace was introduced into his small unit last month there hasn't been an attack in the cell.
"We believe idleness is related to violence. This keeps them busy all day," Winette Saunders, head of the Correction Department's youth programming, told the Daily News.
While the results are amazing, the program started with a bit of a struggle because it's not easy to find a dog that is suited for life behind bars.
Ace is a good fit and he enjoys the attention he gets from the inmates, reported Daily News. Like most of the inmates in his cell, Ace is only staying temporarily and will be put up for adoption after nine weeks.
Ace will likely be replaced by another dog once he does his time. Officials told Daily News that they plan to expand the program in the future.
"The dogs have the ability to break through any nonsense," Liz Keller, founder of Rescue Dogs Rescue Soldiers, told the Daily News. "These kids become kids again. They are not in the gang mentality."
