Sheriffs and jail administrations come to know liability in an up close and personal manner which few other professions face on a regular basis. Most every sheriff might as well adopt “D” as their middle initial – it will stand for “Defendant” soon enough! Keeping the public, staff, and inmates safe and secure is a…
JAILCON23 Western Regional Conference Summary
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The National Institute for Jail Operations proudly reports the success of the JAILCON23 Western Regional Conference at the Gila River Resort at Wild Horse Pass in Chandler, AZ, June 5-7, 2023, the 7th annual corrections training conference for the Western Region.
The conference sold out once again this year, having over 375 corrections professionals from several states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming in attendance.
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DAY 1 - June 5, 2023
We began the conference with our Opening Session, starting with a flag ceremony presented by the Honor Guard from the Pinal County Sheriff's Office (AZ). Also from Pinal County were Trenton and Breanna Yardley, who provided us with a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem, following which, NIJO Executive Director, Tate McCotter , led all in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance. Following the flag ceremony, welcome remarks were given by host agency representatives: Sheriff David Rhodes, Yavapai County (AZ) and President of the Arizona Sheriffs' Association, and Chief of Police Jesse Crabtree, Gila River Indian Community (AZ). Following the opening session, individuals attended three 1.5 hour break-out training sessions with the option of five topics during every session. Training sessions were taught by top corrections experts from across the country, including: Keith Hoskins (National TrainingAdministrator, NIJO and Ret. Jail Administrator, Boone County Sheriff's Office, MO); Johnny Knatt (JJK Workplace, LLC); Rob Yantis (Jail Commander, Pennington County Sheriff's Office, SD); Dr. Steve Sampson (Founder, Institute for Social Intelligence; Aaron Dawson (Ret. Warden, Morgan County Sheriff's Office, AL); Jim Jellison (Managing Partner, Jellison & Robens); Joshua Arnold (Director of Operations, NIJO); Rachel Love (Partner, Struck Love Bojanowski & Acedo PLC); Glen Ercanbrack (Deputy Director, Adult Probation & Parole (Ret.), Utah Department of Corrections); Chief Deputy Mike Haley, Ph.D. (Washington Parish Sheriff's Office, LA); Blake Hamilton (Partner, Dentons Durham Jones & Pinegar P.C.); Vanessa Losicco (Assistant City Attorney, City of Tempe, AZ); and Brian Hunt (Loss Control Manager, Arizona Counties Insurance Pool). Sessions throughout the conference were targeted for all levels of corrections from sheriff and jail administrator to line level staff. Following the training sessions we mingled with attendees and vendors in the Welcome Reception. The Welcome Reception included hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, pin/patch/coin trading, and lots of prize giveaways sponsored by our generous sponsors.

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DAY 2 - June 6, 2023
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DAY 3 - June 7, 2023
We started our final day of the conference with three 1.25 hour training sessions, with a special block of training dedicated to medical professionals. Topics from these sessions included, "Avoid Disaster: Effective Quality Control," "Progressive Discipline," "Initiating Positive Press & PR," "Classification and It's Legal Implications," and "Supervisory Liability." Trainers for our final day of classes included: Joshua Arnold (Director of Operations, NIJO); Rachel Love (Partner, Struck Love Bojanowski & Acedo PLC); Glen Ercanbrack (Deputy Director, Adult Probation & Parole (Ret.), Utah Department of Corrections); Sean Stewart (Consultant, Stewart Criminal Justice Consulting); Mark Robens (Partner, Jellison & Robens); Matt Hedrick (Deputy Chief, Pinal County Sheriff's Office, AZ); Sam Salzwedel (Public Information Office, Pinal County Sheriff's Office, AZ); Rob Yantis (Jail Commander, Pennington County Sheriff's Office, SD); Chris Olson (Chief of Police, University of Arizona); Sheila Polk (County Attorney, Yavapai County, AZ); Dr. Neil Fisher, CCHP (Assistant Chief Medical Officer & Medical Director, Wexford Health Sources, Inc.); and Ben Griego (President, Correctional Solutions).

We'd like to thank all of the attendees, vendors, sponsors, and instructors for their contributions and participation at JAILCON this year. We are pleased to report another successful conference, and look forward to seeing you again next year!
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You may also be interested in JAILCON23 Western Region Corrections Professionals Awards Summary.
JAILCON23 Western Region Corrections Professionals Awards
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NIJO wishes to extend our congratulations to the following award recipients.
JAILCON23 WESTERN REGION CORRECTIONS PROFESSIONALS AWARDS
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CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
Cassandra O'Brien
Adult Diversion Officer/Case Manager, 14th Judicial District

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DETENTION FACILITY INNOVATION AWARD
Greenlee County Sheriff's Office, AZ

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DEDICATION TO EXCELLENCE AWARD
Most of the nominations this year discussed their nominee’s loss of overtime earned due to pulling extra shifts. Understanding these dynamics, we recognize there are many that qualify for this award. Because of this we selected two recipients this year.Lt. Justin Branner
Johnson County Sheriff's Office, KS

Sgt. Dane Browning
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, AZ

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DISTINGUISHED VALOR AWARD
Owen McCann Clallam County Sheriff's Office, WA
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NIJO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S AWARD
Blake Hamilton
Partner, Dentons Durham Jones Pinegar
“Blake is someone you want in your corner. He is fiercely loyal and will dedicate himself tirelessly to helping you, whether you are his client, his colleague, or his friend. He lives for a good fight in the courtroom.” –Ashley Gregson
“Despite being one of the busiest lawyers at our firm, Blake has taken the time to introduce me to important aspects of the practice of law and has shared valuable insights into effective litigation strategies, professionalism, and service to clients.” –Johnny R. Richardson
“I have had the pleasure of working as Blake’s paralegal for the past 11 years. I have witnessed first-hand how hard this man works to solve his clients’ problems. Blake takes their legal matters personally, as if they were his own, and goes full speed ahead fighting for their rights. Having Blake on your side is truly an asset. -- Melani Thatcher

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NIJO PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION
The National Institute for Jail Operations developed the Professional Certification Program in response to the need to provide a respected national certification for individuals looking for a process that involved legal-based curriculum by an organization which supports and defends their agencies’ worthy goals and objectives. NIJO Professional Certification is a professional designation - earned not issued - for jail and detention officers, supervisors, administrators and sheriffs who have demonstrated to possess the requisite understanding, knowledge, skills, experience and abilities to function to a specific level. Achieving NIJO Certification is a significant accomplishment and reflects intense training, effort, experience and comprehension proving that an individual confidently knows and can follow clearly established laws and procedures in fulfilling his or her duties within a correctional facility.
National Certified Corrections Supervisor (NCCS) Certification was awarded to the following individuals:
Commander Chris McCarthy
Apache County Sheriff's Office, AZ

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NIJO ACCREDITATION
NIJO Accreditation is an established process for correctional administrators to verify and be recognized nationally as compliant to what the law requires to run a constitutionally safe facility. As the only such accreditation in the country, NIJO promulgates over 600 Legal-Based GuidelinesTM specific to each state, to ensure that detention and correctional facilities comply with current legal requirements applicable to each state, circuit court and federal rulings and statutes. Achieving accreditation is not a walk in the park. It requires legal-based policies and procedures, documentation and consistency on all levels.Pinal County Sheriff's Office, AZ
Pinal County Sheriff's Office was the first county in the entire country to achieve reaccreditation Level I status – the highest that can be awarded by NIJO. Since their initial accreditation in 2012, Pinal County Detention Facility has worked diligently to keep its policies and ongoing operational practices current and compliant to the law and the Arizona Legal-Based Guidelines amidst intense budget cutbacks, depleted staff, and numerous other challenges.
Pinal County SO recently completed their Year 3 Accreditation Requirements to maintain Level I Accreditation. Congratulations to Sheriff Mark Lamb, Chief Matt Hedrick and the entire Pinal County Sheriff’s Office and Detention staff for this great accomplishment!
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ARIZONA SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION AWARDS
CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
Loretta Valdez
Pinal County Sheriff's Office, AZ

DETENTION OFFICER OF THE YEAR
Deputy Samuel Fa'apoi
Navajo County Sheriff's Office, AZ

MARY HYNEK MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Victoria Gonzales, RN
Yuma County Sheriff's Office, AZ

SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR
Sergeant Marty Boisvert
Navajo County Sheriff's Office, AZ

DETENTION ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR
Commander Tyler Attaway
Greenlee County Sheriff's Office, AZ
Greenlee County Sheriff's Office, AZ

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Congratulations to all of these outstanding and dedicated professionals and their agencies. You are the unsung heroes of law enforcement. We appreciate you and are dedicated to providing legal-based training and resources for the employees of jails and detention facilities across the country.
You may also be interested in: JAILCON23 Western Regional Conference Summary.
Detention Officers–More than Just “Jailers”
Many detention officers start their careers using detention as the first “stepping stone” to becoming law enforcement officers. Some have never considered that being an officer in a detention center is also a law enforcement profession. The work being done within these walls is often misunderstood: in a detention center, there is a second community with very specific and special needs that no outside community shares. Detention officers must adapt to a very complex, ever-changing and sometimes dangerous environment. We must begin our days with a heightened awareness of our workplace with its routine activities that do not exist in other professions.
I Am Possible – A Program by the City of North Las Vegas Community Corrections Center
In 2020, the City of North Las Vegas reopened their corrections facility with a new mission—to make a real difference in the lives of inmates. The goal of reducing recidivism can seem unobtainable or far-fetched, but when Jurea Williams was hired as the Community Services Specialist, she understood the tall task in front of her and was ready to make it happen. She began developing a program that didn’t just keep the inmate population occupied but also made a noticeable difference in recidivism.
Using Administrative Segregation as an Inmate Management Tool – Part II
An important discretionary tool in maintaining safety and security is administrative segregation. Ad seg is a highly effective tool needed and utilized by jail and prison administrators. This allows for the separation of inmates who have demonstrated, through their actions, that they pose a threat to the safety of inmates, staff and the public. Administrators have no option but to isolate inmates who continue to engage in criminal activities while being incarcerated.