It’s been six months since Gonzalo Ticas landed in South Bay House of Corrections in Boston’s South End. He was sentenced to a year for violating probation — and with a pending court case, he fears he could see more jail time.

"I'll definitely be receiving more time, unfortunately, but I'm going to work hard,” he said. "So hopefully, [I'll] get out sooner than later.”

Ticas is 23. He and two dozen other young inmates under 25 at South Bay have a reason to be optimistic about getting lenient treatment thanks to a new program launched by the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department.

Focus On Intervention Over Punishment

It’s known as the PEACE unit — a cellblock designed to try to make sure young inmates never return.

“This is not your grandfather's incarceration facility any longer,” said Sheriff Steve Tompkins, who runs South Bay as well as Nashua Street Jail in Boston.

Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins speaks at a press conference about the department’s new PEACE program at the Suffolk County House of Correction. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

Tompkins recently told a roomful of public officials and inmates that the PEACE unit — an acronym for "Positive Energy Always Creates Elevation" — is part of an effort to reshape the way people are treated behind bars.

“As we all know, this country incarcerates far too many of its citizens, and far too many black and brown and poor citizens," he said. "And so this initiative is one way to address that situation.”

The PEACE unit promises a more open, familial environment than the typical cellblock at South Bay. Officials at the jail said they’re trying to foster respect — not just between those doing time, but also between inmates and officers.

The three officers assigned to the PEACE unit went through restorative justice training before the unit opened. When an inmate misbehaves, officers have been trained to intervene before resorting to punitive measures.

The unit opened a month and a half ago, and Ticas said it’s already changed his perspective.

"I definitely have transformed to a better man so far,” he said. "I definitely just feel better about myself. I'm enrolled in college courses, and I'm taking every program and advantage that I can."

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh chats with some of the inmates at a press conference about the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department's PEACE unit. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

The PEACE unit is based on a model that comes out of Germany, which is known for its progressive penal system. A county in Connecticut has implemented a similar program for young inmates, and Middlesex County started a program of its own back in February.

On the wall in a study room are portraits of various visionaries — from Malcolm X to Muhammad Ali, with a quote from Gandhi outside. There's a workout area, and a PlayStation 4. (Science says young minds like video games, one sheriff's department official told me.)