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06Jul

Why We Need to Defend Qualified Immunity in Jails

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…

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JAILCON23 Western Regional Conference Summary

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.

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

 
The second day of JAILCON had the attendees buzzing with excitement. For the safety and security of our Keynote Speaker and his family we did not reveal his identity. After being introduced by his good friend, Mark Owens took the stage. Mark is a Retired Navy Seal and American Hero. He served on the U.S. Navy SEAL Teams for 14 years, including extensive time on SEAL Team 6. He shared inspiring stories that illustrated how to achieve the "SEAL Team Mindset." Those points were teamwork; comfortable being uncomfortable; shared sense of purpose; prioritize and eat one bite at a time; be "all in, all the time;" change, evolve, and adapt; relationships/trust; 3 foot world; and teamwork (again!).  Attendees left feeling motivated and inspired to do and be better individuals and team players. We thank all of our attendees for respecting Mark's privacy by not taking any photos of him. 
Following the Keynote Session, attendees gathered together in the Exhibit Hall to visit with the 50 corrections-specific vendors. Mark Owens also joined us in the Exhibit Hall for a meet and greet with attendees where they could purchase a signed copy of one of his books.  We'd like to express our deepest appreciation to all of our vendors and especially our sponsors, for supporting JAILCON.
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The afternoon was spent in two more 90-minute training sessions. Topics ranged from, "A Jail Officer's Guide to Detox Protocol," "Leading the Challenging Employee," "Policy Writing," and "Supervisory Decision Making." Training Sessions were taught by: Chief Deputy Mike Haley, Ph.D. (Washington Parish Sheriff's Office, LA); Megan Kennedy, RN, CCHP, (Director – Detention Health Services, Cochise County Sheriff's Office, AZ); Aaron Dawson (Ret. Warden, Morgan County Sheriff's Office, AL); Chief Larry Hall (Police Chief, City of Buckeye, AZ); Blake Hamilton (Partner, Dentons Durham Jones & Pinegar P.C.); Rachel Love (Partner, Struck Love Bojanowski & Acedo PLC); Tate McCotter, CJM (Executive Director, NIJO); Rob Yantis (Jail Commander, Pennington County Sheriff's Office, SD); Michele Molinario (Partner, Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, P.L.C.); Derek Graffious (Associate Attorney, Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, P.L.C.); Christy Heisner (Detention Lieutenant, Cochise County Sheriff's Office, AZ); and Sean Stewart (Consultant, Stewart Criminal Justice Consulting).
 
That evening, attendees and vendors joined together on the hotel's event lawn for our annual Corrections Appreciation Event. We had outdoor games including giant jenga and connect four, and for the 6th year in a row our JAILCON Cornhole Tournament! Attendees additionally enjoyed ice cream bars, a cash bar, and DJ. All of the proceeds from the event went toward our fundraiser for the 100 Club of Arizona. Thank you to all who attended and donated to this great cause!
Tuesday evening all attendees and sponsors/exhibitors were invited to attend the Corrections Appreciation Event, the Heatwave Summer Party, at the Talking Stick Resort Pool and Sunwatcher Bar.  Attendees enjoyed music, frozen treats, contests and prize giveaways.  The biggest highlights of the night were the belly flop contest, the dance off, and, for the 5th year in a row, the highly competitive JAILCON Cornhole Tournament!
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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).
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The final event of the conference was our annual Awards Ceremony and Luncheon where correctional professionals and agencies from the Western Region are recognized for their dedication and excellence in the profession throughout their careers, and especially during the past year. We began the luncheon with NIJO Executive Director, Tate McCotter, presenting AZ 100 Club Director, Angela Harrole, with a check for $1,016.00.  The AZ 100 Club provides financial assistance to families of first responders who are seriously injured or killed in the line of duty and provide resources to enhance their safety and welfare. This money was raised by attendees throughout the conference through a raffle and the cornhole competition. Thank you to our attendees for your generous donations. Commander Brent Kimbriel from the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office (AZ) then presented awards on behalf of the Arizona Sheriffs' Association and NIJO Executive Director Tate McCotter presented the JAILCON23 Western Corrections Professionals Awards on behalf of the National Institute for Jail Operations. You can read more about the awards and the recipients here. 

 

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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16Jun

JAILCON23 Western Region Corrections Professionals Awards

Several individuals who have demonstrated dedication and excellence in the corrections profession throughout their careers were recognized during an Awards Luncheon held in conjunction with JAILCON23 Western Regional Conference on Wednesday, June 7th, 2023, at the Gila River Resort at Wild Horse Pass, in Chandler, Arizona. NIJO Executive Director, Tate McCotter, who presented awards to the recipients of the JAILCON23 Western Region Corrections Professionals Awards.  McCotter also recognized agencies and individuals who had earned NIJO National Accreditation and Professional Certification.  In addition to these awards, Commander Brent Kimbriel (Yavapai County, AZ) along with representatives from many Arizona county sheriffs' offices honored recipients of the Arizona Sheriffs' Association Awards.

NIJO wishes to extend our congratulations to the following award recipients.

JAILCON23 WESTERN REGION CORRECTIONS PROFESSIONALS AWARDS

CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR

 

Cassandra O'Brien
Adult Diversion Officer/Case Manager, 14th Judicial District

Nominated by her Sheriff, Cassandra O’Brien is the Adult Diversion Officer/Case Manager for the Grand County Sheriff’s Office. As the Adult Diversion Officer for the 14th Judicial District, she provides support services for Grand County, Routt County and Moffat County. Cassandra began this newly grant funded position on December 1, 2020. She has many responsibilities including coordinating the Jail Based Behavioral Services (JBBS) program which did not exist in Grand County prior to the creation of her new position. In the Fall of 2022 Cassandra, recognized a vital need by inmates being released in our often cold and inclement weather and came up with the innovative idea of hosting a coat drive. A press release, corresponding social media posts and news stories were shared by the Grand County Sheriff’s Office to engage the community’s involvement. The overwhelmingly positive community response and coat donations received, has changed what was originally a month-long coat drive into a year-round project. The coat drive initiative was so successful a permanent coat rack now hangs in the front entrance of the Sheriff’s Office lobby. As inmates are released and as citizens come in and out of the Sheriff’s Office conducting normal business, they see coats hung with care below a sign that reads, “If the cold weather is on your mind, please take a warm coat, as they were donated by someone kind.” Her sheriff says: “The simple act of receiving a warm coat on a freezing night or day, and knowing it was donated by someone that was not judging, only caring, might make a world of difference in someone’s life. That someone could be anyone, from anywhere. Afterall, does anyone truly plan on being incarcerated? Cassandra’s servant heart shines brightly and the Grand County Sheriff’s Office and Grand County community are blessed and honored to have her working in her position and serving our inmate population.”
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DETENTION FACILITY INNOVATION AWARD


 

Greenlee County Sheriff's Office, AZ

Before 2019 the facility was still operating on a paper and pencil system for most of the daily operation. In March of 2019 Guardian RFID was installed and most of the operational paperwork was replaced by using the Spartan devices to digitally record officer tasks. We also worked with HomeWAV to provide inmate phones, video visiting, inmate messaging, and a platform that would allow staff to respond to facility documents from the inmates.   In this year we also recently signed a contract to provide tele-medicine and psychiatric services to our inmates. Before this the inmates only received medical treatment in house. This agreement brought on a doctor who was familiar with correctional medicine and the ability to provide mental health to the inmates, which we did not have before. We also started working with Encartel who provided a TV for each of our housing units, staff area, and front lobby. This system is a great way for our facility to provide fair notice of information to the inmates such as inmate rules, bondsman info, how to file institutional forms, news, weather, etc., and inform staff of training or other critical information.   Like numerous facilities, ours struggled with maintaining policy. In 2022 we contracted with the National Institute of Jail Operations to create legal based policy with the goal to to operate a constitutional and a legal based policy will help us reach that goal. We also discovered that NIJO offered an Academy of Basic Corrections through internet classes. By using these classes combined with some of the material that needed to be taught in-person and our FTO program, we were able to create a training program that is more practical to hire and train low levels of new applicants while still accomplishing physical fitness and defensive tactics. Congratulations to Sheriff Tim Sumner, Jail Commander Tyler Attaway and the entire Detention Staff at Greenlee County Sheriff's Office!
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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

Lt. Justin Branner has gone above and beyond to demonstrate a dedication to excellence this year. The duties he is responsible for were previously divided among 6 lieutenants, but because of staffing and reorganization, they are now split between 3 lieutenants. Lt. Branner has never once complained about the substantially increased workload and has instead thrived under this pressure. Specifically, Lt. Branner was instrumental in creating a Maximum-Security Team. Prior to the creation of the team, new officers were finding it difficult to manage this custody level and many rule violations and disturbances occurred. The creation of the Maximum-Security Team has improved consistency and staff morale by allowing them to thrive in a team environment as well as work an improved schedule.   Lt. Branner is also a leader of the Peer Support Unit. This has been incredibly important this year, as Johnson County staff, as well as many across the nation, have dealt with the difficulties associated with this profession. Their division had a staff member fall victim to suicide, and Lt. Branner immediately began coordinating debriefs with all of their crews. Furthermore, he helped facilitate commemorative signs in their facilities that read, “Your Fight is Our Fight.”   He facilitated wellness training for our staff on multiple shifts and organizes after-hours events for staff such as Pancakes with Santa, which hundreds of employees and their families participated in. He is currently working with “Monkey Brain Art,” a veterans-run organization, to provide art sessions for employees and their families as an outlet for stress and PTSD.
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Sgt. Dane Browning
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, AZ

Sgt. Dane Browning’s accomplishments with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) have been wide-ranging and help paint the picture of his work ethic and commitment to the agency and public service. He is currently the Infectious Control Supervisor with the Occupational Safety Division at MCSO. Additionally, he is a Certified Corrections Supervisor (CCS), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Phlebotomist, Detention Firearms Instructor, and a member of MCSO’s Honor Guard. Responsibilities Sgt. Browning has been directly involved with include revamping office wide policy, testing procedures and equipment to support this new policy, constant communication and contact tracing in collaboration with Correctional Health regarding COVID exposures, critiques, and revisions of several critical and other office policies, researched new products in efforts to maintain the agencies safety culture, been present during blood draws, coordinated curriculum, and taught at the MCSO Training Center, etc.   Dane consistently puts the needs of the Office above his own. Last year alone he attended 43 Honor Guard events, 18 Firearms Classes, 1000 Contact Tracing reports, 2 jail fentanyl mass casualty events, as well as dozens of accident investigations. One example of this is when he took it upon himself, after noticing that another department for Maricopa County had adjusted the salary range for LPN’s, to ensure that the LPN with OSD’s salary had also been adjusted. This action speaks volumes of how Sgt. Browning values his team and works to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and respectfully.   Sgt. Browning also dedicates time off-duty including a law enforcement Toy Drive, and Spring Fling staff event for MCSO employees. He is also a proud father of two, husband, and active community member in his neighborhood.
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DISTINGUISHED VALOR AWARD

Owen McCann Clallam County Sheriff's Office, WA
In 2022 and throughout his career, Corrections Deputy Owen McCann has distinguished himself as one of the hardest working, generous, selfless, and devoted members of the Clallam County Sheriff's Office.  He worked 327.5 hours of overtime with an impeccable attendance record and with the flexibility of adjusting his shifts to prevent overtime on other shifts.  He is known for answering his phone when duty calls.   In addition to his hard work and selflessness, Deputy McCann also received three life-saving awards in 2022 for incidents in which he provided a crucial role.   The first incident, in June of 2022, Deputy McCann, with the help of some others, assisted an inmate after an attempted suicide. He recorded vitals and stayed with the inmate until the EMT’s arrived.   The second incident, in December of 2022, Deputy McCann assisted an inmate who was experiencing an overdose. After the Narcan was applied, Deputy McCann rode in the ambulance with the inmate to have him medically cleared.   The third incident, 3 days after the last incident, Deputy McCann assisted another inmate with an attempted suicide. He called to the inmate in his cell who did not respond. He entered the cell, loosened the blanket rope off of the inmate’s neck, radioed for assistance, and started chest compressions. With the help of other staff in the facility, they continued chest compressions and AED’s until the EMT’s took over. Shortly after, the inmate regained a pulse and survived the incident.
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NIJO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S AWARD

Blake Hamilton
Partner, Dentons Durham Jones Pinegar

Blake Hamilton, esq, has made a significant and profound impact upon the corrections and law enforcemenet profession.  Not arrogant or cocky, he is always willing to lend a helping hand and has sacrified much for the betterment of our profession.

“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.
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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

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

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MARY HYNEK MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Victoria Gonzales, RN
Yuma County Sheriff's Office, AZ

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SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR

Sergeant Marty Boisvert

Navajo County Sheriff's Office, AZ

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DETENTION ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR  

Commander Tyler Attaway
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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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