In 2016, the California City Correctional Facility launched a pilot program, called Pawsitive Change, that pairs inmates with rescue dogs. The inmates train the dogs so that, at the end of the program, they can be adopted by forever homes. 1/ wired.trib.al/Sm64tzz
Photographer Shayan Asgharnia, spent several months documenting the training sessions in 2017. After receiving permission to shoot inside the prison, he began driving two hours to and from California City every Tuesday. 2/ wired.trib.al/Sm64tzz 
Inside the prison walls, he witnessed a series of remarkable transformations. "The inmates want so badly to get into the program," he said. "It gives them a sense of purpose." 3/ wired.trib.al/Sm64tzz
The pilot proved wildly successful and has since expanded to other prisons around the Golden State. Training the dogs allows the men to express their emotions in ways normally discouraged behind bars. 4/ wired.trib.al/Sm64tzz
"When the dogs come in, they're like some of the inmates ... One was just terrified of everything—super skittish, wasn't able to cope with any kind of human ... With patient training and love, those inmates were able to turn the situation around." 5/ wired.trib.al/Sm64tzz
Pawsitive Change improves inmates’ interpersonal skills and it also provides them with valuable career skills—many go on to work as professional dog trainers after their release. 6/ wired.trib.al/Sm64tzz
"The prison system is deeply flawed, but I'm thankful this program is giving people a second chance. Because nobody else is doing that," Asgharnia said. See more of his photos from Pawsitive Change here: 7/ wired.trib.al/Sm64tzz
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