JAILCON23 Southern Region Corrections Professionals Awards

The National Institute for Jail Operations (NIJO) is pleased to announce that several individuals were recently recognized for their commitment and dedication to the corrections profession. NIJO Executive Director, Tate McCotter, presented the Southern Region Corrections Professionals Awards at an Awards Luncheon held in conjunction with JAILCON23 Southern Regional Conference, on Wednesday, August 30, 2023, in Gulf Shores, Alabama. In addition to these awards, McCotter also recognized agencies and individuals who had earned NIJO National Accreditation and Professional Certification.

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

2023 SOUTHERN REGION CORRECTIONS PROFESSIONALS AWARDS

HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR AWARD

Christy Miller, Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, AL

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Christy Miller is responsible for assessing the mental health status of inmates confined in the Mobile County Metro Jail. She studies relevant health history, performs comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, and identifies risks to diagnose the inmate’s mental illness and then treat that illness. With her knowledge she is able to put inmates on therapy and prescription medication regimens to improve their mental health. She provides support and education to families in the community. Her responsibilities are both emotionally and mentally demanding. It requires a broad set of professional skills mastered over the course of their careers that allow these NPs to manage their stress and workload while providing a high-level of care. NP Miller deisplays professionalism, shows respect, tact, and sensitivity while communicating with inmates and their families. Her way of establishing trust with inmates enables them to confide in her while maintaining organizational values and acting as an advocate for those coping with mental illness. Determining the scope and specifics of mental illness can be difficult because signs are not always clear. NP Miller is able to synthesize diverse data and with patience research adapt for inmate care. She comes expeditiously when called upon and labors with inmates during their crisis and has a way of calming down the most emotionally unstable inmate. She goes above and beyond to make the inmates feel worthy and essential.

JAILCON23 Southern Region Corrections Professionals Awards

DETENTION OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Dell Kubler, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, GA

Deputy First Class Dell Kubler serves as the Grievance Officer for the Forsyth County Jail. He recognizes the importance of maintaining a formal process for inmates to address complaints and other concerns while incarcerated. Along with the duties of Grievance Officer, Deputy Kubler has taken on the responsibility of assisting the agency accreditation manager with maintaining the highly coveted National Institute of Jail Operations Level One Accreditation. He works extra hours without complaint and with the goal of maintaining 100% compliance with all applicable standards. The duties of Grievance Officer and Accreditation Management require daily attention to detail and consistent communication with staff and Senior Command. Deputy Kubler’s demeanor is very calm, informative, and reassuring even when the topic at hand may be extremely important to maintaining compliance with policies and accreditation standards. He is excellent at accomplishing the task at hand in a stress-free manner which is always appreciated by staff. Said his captain, “When you meet and work with Deputy Dell Kubler you will see professionalism, calm, confidence and a genuine concern for the efficient, safe and orderly operation of the Forsyth County Jail.”

DETENTION SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

Earl Leonard, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, MS

Lieutenant Leonard retired from the Army in 1999 and became a corrections officer in January 2003. He worked his way up the chain of command and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on February 15, 2007. He is highly regarded and respected by Deputies and inmates. He encourages and instructs subordinates and inmates alike. He recently was the 1st Lieutenant to start working extra hours to help with the staff shortage of Deputies, leading by example. He returned to the trenches as if he was starting over as a Deputy. He works beside them and supports them all professionally and personally, which means a lot to them. Lieutenant Leonard is an example to other Supervisors in understanding exactly what it means to care and be a leader for subordinates. He is a hard worker willing to do anything to make the jail run smoothly. He is very dedicated to the mission of care, custody, and control of staff, inmates, and public.

DETENTION ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

Randall Denzer, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, AR

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DETENTION FACILITY INNOVATION AWARD

LaFourche Parish Correctional Complex Programming & Re-Entry Services, LA

After decades of using an older, outdated facility, Sheriff Craig Webre and his team brought a sales tax proposal before the public in 2014 to fund a new correctional facility. The voters overwhelmingly supported the proposal as it passed with nearly 70% of the vote. Over 95% of all those incarcerated are eventually released, and the mission of the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex is to return better, more productive citizens to society. In addition to the re-entry programming, the following have occurred within the facility:

Poetry contests and art competitions for inmates
Partnerships with colleges and universities to provide opportunities for offenders to complete their college degree/certificate and participate in unique programs such as Inside/Out
Regular reentry classes such as Thinking for a Change, Anger Management, and Prerelease, special voluntary impact classes have been created to include Creative Writing, Understanding Depression, Dealing with Anxiety, and Surviving Trauma and PTSD.
A Medically Assisted Treatment program to address opioid addiction
LPSO caught national attention with its “White Flag Project’’ for National Victims Awareness Week and Second Change Month. Each inmate created a white flag and wrote heartfelt messages of remorse and sorrow for their past acts. The inmates planted the hundreds of flags across the front lawn of the correctional complex to signify their willingness to renounce their past and strive for a new future.

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, two recipients were selected for this award in 2023.

Major Robert Sowell, Spalding County Sheriff's Office, GA

Major Robert Sowell began the position of Spalding County Jail Administrator on January 1, 2017. Major Sowell was selected by Sheriff Dix because of his reputation for excellence. While working for the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, Major Sowell has revised the Detention S.O.P.s to be current and comprehensive. He updated the inmate handbook and inmate orientation to help create order for the inmates and staff. Major Sowell recognizes the importance of training and has created training opportunities for Detention Deputies to have a career path in Detention or other divisions of the Sheriff’s Office. Major Sowell has partnered with National Institute for Jail Operations to have training available for all deputies on a multitude of topics. Obtaining the NIJO Professional Certification will not only create a better trained Deputy, but will prepare them for promotion while reducing agency liability. In addition to Deputy training, Major Sowell recognizes the need for offering education opportunities to inmates and he found a vendor to provide the education and training. This training has resulted in many inmates participating and leaving our facility to find employment or continue their education. We are certain this will have an effect on recidivism. Per Sheriff Dix, “Major Sowell’s character and work ethic is a valuable asset to the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office.”

William Randolph, White County Sheriff's Office, TN

Capatin Will Randolph is the Assistant Jail Administrator for the White County Sheriff's Office in Sparta, NT. He is certified in CIT, Defensive Tactics and is an OC Instructor. William Randolph is known for always serving others and wanting to help everyone around him. Since October 2022 he has been working on a project to get mental health treatment inside the White County Jail. Through countless hours of work by him the county was awarded a grant to bring this treatment to the inmates. This grant allows White County Jail to partner with South Central Tennessee Work Alliance and gets a counselor and case manager to give the treatment that has been in dire need for a long time given that county jails and facilities all across the state are in fact turning into "mental treatment facilities". This type of grant partnership with SCTWA is the first of it's kind within the 13th Judicial District. Major Kevin Benton, Jail Administrator for White County Jail said this of Captain Randolph: "Knowing Will is a pleasure--we are very lucky and fortunate to have him on staff here. He is a selfless man that loves his job and would tell you that he wouldn't be in the position he is without me. Honestly though, I wouldn't be in the position I am without people like Will. His hard work and dedication to the field of corrections is second to none."

NIJO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S AWARD

Dr. Stephen Sampson
Psychologist, Sampson Testing & Training

Dr. Steve Sampson has been teaching social intelligence, and leadership skills for over 45 years. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts (1970) and a Masters (1976) and Doctoral Degree (1981) in Counseling Psychology from Georgia State University. He is a nationally recognized Master Trainer in Interpersonal Communication Skills since 1977, and has presented that training to over 300 agencies and organizations in 40 states. He is a former Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Georgia State University from 1979 to 1985. In 2004, he retired from his position as a Clinical Professor in the Counseling Psychology at Georgia State University (1995-2004). He recently retired as Executive-in-Residence Professor at the College of Justice and Safety at Eastern Kentucky University (2009-2016) where he developed an Institute for Social Intelligence and Leadership.

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 Executive (NCCE) Certification was awarded to the following individuals:

Phillip Barnard, St. Clair County Sheriff's Office, AL

Carl Carpenter, Walker County Sheriff's Office, AL

Larry Henry, Clay County Sheriff's Office, FL

Thalantha Jones, Clay County Sheriff's Office, FL

Tammy Peart, Crawford County Sheriff's Office, MO

Kimberly Watson, Baldwin County Sheriff's Office, AL

Justin White, Walker County Sheriff's Office, AL

Sierra Wilks, Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, AL

National Certified Corrections Supervisor (NCCS) Certification was awarded to the following individuals:

Barry Cooper Jr., Washington Parish Sheriff's Office, LA

Christina Vickers, Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, GA

National Certified Corrections Officer (NCCO) Certification was awarded to the following individuals:

Phyllis Farmer, St. Clair County Sheriff's Office, AL

**Sydney Mitchell, Fors*County Sheriff's Office, GA***

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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 Guidelines^TM 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.

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, GA

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office was the first facility in Georgia to receive NIJO accreditation in 2020. They recently completed their Year 2 Accreditation Requirements in efforts to maintain Level I accreditation, the highest level achievable. Congratulations to the entire jail staff at Forsyth County!

Harrison County Sheriff's Office, MS

Harrison County Sheriff's Office was the first facility in Mississippi to receive NIJO accreditation in 2019. They recently completed their Year 2 Accreditation Requirements in efforts to maintain Level I accreditation, the highest level achievable. Congratulations to the entire team at Harrison County!

Baldwin County Sheriff's Office, AL

Baldwin County Sheriff's Office has recently completed their Year 3 Accreditation Requirements in efforts to maintain Level I accreditation, the highest level achievable. Congratulations Baldwin County for your continued efforts to be accredited!

Shelby County Sheriff's Office, AL

Shelby County Sheriff's Office was the first facility in Alabama to receive NIJO accreditation in 2016. They recently completed their Year 3 Accreditation Requirements in efforts to maintain Level I accreditation, the highest level achievable. Congratulations Shelby County! Keep up the great work!

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 Southern Regional Conference Summary

Grand Prize - Sponsored by Legacy Commissary Services (Platinum Sponsor)

By Expert Blog JAILCON September 7, 2023

The National Institute for Jail Operations proudly reports the success of the JAILCON23 Southern Regional Conference at The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, AL, August 28-30, 2023, the 6th annual JAILCON Corrections Training Conference and Exhibitor Showcase for the Southern Region.

The conference sold out this year, having over 300 corrections professionals from several states including Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Utah in attendance.

DAY 1 - August 28, 2023

As always, the conference began with our Opening Session, starting with a flag ceremony presented by the Honor Guard from the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office (AL). Also from Baldwin County was Deputy Tyler Ludke, who provided us with a wonderful rendition of our national anthem. Next Executive Director, Tate McCotter, led all in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance. Welcome remarks were then given by host agency representatives: Sheriff Hoss Mack, Baldwin County (AL); Sheriff Shannon Oliver, Franklin County (AL) and President of the Alabama Sheriffs’ Association; and Aaron Dawson, Executive Director of the Alabama Jail Administrators’ Council (AJAC). After the opening session, participants attended four 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: Rob Yantis (Jail Commander, Pennington County Sheriff's Office, SD); Keith Hoskins (National Training Administrator, NIJO and Ret. Jail Administrator, Boone County Sheriff's Office, MO); Johnny Knatt (JJK Workplace, LLC); JaNan Thomas (RMS Litigation Counsel, Arkansas Association of Counties); Rachel Love (Partner, Struck Love Bojanowski & Acedo PLC); Glenn Ercanbrack (Deputy Director, Adult Probation & Parole (Ret.), Utah Department of Corrections); Joshua Arnold (Director of Operations, NIJO); 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); Matt Hedrick (Deputy Chief, Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, AZ); Matt Thomas (Chief Deputy/Executive Officer, Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, AZ); Blake Hamilton (Partner, Dentons Durham Jones & Pinegar P.C.); and Deborah Ash R.N. (Chief Executive Officer, Correctional Medical-Legal Consulting). Sessions throughout the conference were targeted for all levels of corrections from sheriff and jail administrator to line level staff. At the conclusion of the training sessions attendees and vendors mingled together on the Dunes Terrace overlooking the gulf shore during the Welcome Reception. The Welcome Reception included hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, and lots of prize giveaways sponsored by our generous sponsors.

Baldwin County Honor Guard - JAILCON23 South

Flag Ceremony - Baldwin County Honor Guard

JAILCON23 South - Legal-Based Training for Corrections

DAY 2 - August 29, 2023

The second day of JAILCON is one that we always look forward to, because we get to hear from our keynote speaker. This year our keynote had the attendees buzzing with excitement. For the safety and security of our Keynote Speakers and their families we did not reveal their identities. After being introduced by his good friend, our first keynote speaker took the stage. He 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 included:

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!).

After our first keynote finished speaking he introduced his friend, a retired as Special Operator in the United States Army after 25 years. He shared about his experience being involved in the capture of a high-profile target with ties to al-Qaeda. Following his story, both men answered attendees' questions in a Q&A. Attendees left feeling motivated and inspired to do and be better individuals and team players. We thank all of our attendees for respecting our speakers' privacy by not taking any photos of them. Following the Keynote Session, attendees gathered together in the Exhibit Hall to visit with the 49 corrections-specific vendors in attendance. Our special guests also joined us in the Exhibit Hall for a meet and greet with attendees where they could purchase a signed copy of one of their books. We'd like to express our deepest appreciation to all of our vendors and especially our sponsors, for supporting JAILCON.

Legacy Commissary Services - Platinum Sponsor JAILCON23 South

The afternoon was spent in two more 90 minute training sessions. Topics ranged from, "What You Do Matters: Lessons from the Holocaust," "What Can We Do With ‘That Inmate’ Who Pushes Disciplinary Boundaries," "PANEL: Legal Issues & Updates," "Generation Gaps," “Deliberate Indifference for Medical Providers,” “Solutions to Inmate Mail Issues,” “Supervisory Decision Making,” and “Expecting the Impossible: An Obligation to Provide Medical Care.” Training Sessions were taught by: Chris Olson (Interim Chief of Police, University of Arizona); Sheila Polk (County Attorney, Yavapai County, AZ); Glenn Ercanbrack (Deputy Director, Adult Probation & Parole (Ret.), Utah Department of Corrections); Todd Butler (Managing Partner, Phelps Dunbar LLP); Blake Hamilton (Partner, Dentons Durham Jones & Pinegar P.C.); Rachel Love (Partner, Struck Love Bojanowski & Acedo PLC); Tate McCotter, CJM (Executive Director, NIJO); Nick Morisani (Counsel, Phelps Dunbar LLP); Johnny Knatt (JJK Workplace, LLC); JaNan Thomas (RMS Litigation Counsel, Arkansas Association of Counties); Megan Kennedy, RN, CCHP, (Director – Detention Health Services, Cochise County Sheriff's Office, AZ); Rob Yantis (Jail Commander, Pennington County Sheriff's Office, SD); Aaron Dawson (Ret. Warden, Morgan County Sheriff's Office, AL); Sean Stewart (Consultant, Stewart Criminal Justice Consulting) and Deborah Ash R.N. (Chief Executive Officer, Correctional Medical-Legal Consulting).

Due to a heavy rainstorm, attendees and vendors joined together in the Gulfview Ballroom for our annual Corrections Appreciation Event. We had cornhole, a cash bar, and a DJ. But the highlight of the evening was when attendees and instructors entertained us all with an impromptu karaoke night! Thank you to all who participate in this fun event.

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DAY 3 - August 30, 2023

The final day of the conference offered three 1.25 hour training sessions, and each day of the conference we offered a special training block on Medical/Mental Health. The block was available for all participants to attend. Topics from our third day of training included, "Avoid Disaster: Effective Quality Control," "Progressive Discipline," "Profiling Behind Bars," "Adapting to the Mental Health Crisis: Understanding the Cause & Identifying Resources," and "Conflict Management Techniques." Trainers for our final day of classes included: Chris Olson (Interim Chief of Police, University of Arizona); Sheila Polk (County Attorney, Yavapai County, AZ); Joshua Arnold (Director of Operations, NIJO); Aaron Dawson (Ret. Warden, Morgan County Sheriff's Office, AL); Sean Stewart (Consultant, Stewart Criminal Justice Consulting); Megan Kennedy, RN, CCHP, (Director – Detention Health Services, Cochise County Sheriff's Office, AZ); Christy Heisner (Detention Lieutenant, Cochise County Sheriff's Office, AZ); Dr. Steve Sampson (Founder, Institute for Social Intelligence); Todd Butler (Managing Partner, Phelps Dunbar LLP); Nick Morisani (Counsel, Phelps Dunbar LLP); Wesley Lynch (Captain, Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office, GA); Rob Yantis (Jail Commander, Pennington County Sheriff's Office, SD); and Deborah Ash R.N. (Chief Executive Officer, Correctional Medical-Legal Consulting).

Josh Arnold instructing at JAILCON23 South

To end our conference we host our annual Awards Ceremony and Luncheon where correctional professionals and agencies from the Southern Region are recognized for their dedication and excellence in the profession throughout their careers, and especially during the past year. NIJO Executive Director Tate McCotter presented the JAILCON23 Awards on behalf of the National Institute for Jail Operations. You can read more about the awards and the recipients here.

Once again, 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 Southern Region Corrections Professionals Awards Summary.

By Expert Blog JAILCON September 7, 2023

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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You may also be interested in JAILCON23 Western Region Corrections Professionals Awards Summary.

By Expert Blog JAILCON June 19, 2023

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

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.

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 Guidelines^TM 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

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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.

By Expert Blog JAILCON June 16, 2023
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JAILCON22 Central Regional Conference Summary

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NIJO is pleased to report the success of our 1st annual correction training conference in the Central Region. Last week, October 13-15, 2022, JAILCON22 Central Regional Conference was held at the Embassy Suites Plainfield in Indianapolis, IN.

With this being the first conference held in the central region, we were very pleased with our attendance-- having over 200 corrections professionals from several states including Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virgina, and Wyoming in attendance.

DAY 1 - October 11, 2022

The Opening Session of the conference began with a flag ceremony presented by the Indiana Sheriffs' Association Honor Guard. A beautiful rendition of the national anthem was then performed by Brooke Haggard who has been performing professionally for 21 years.

Attendees were then fortunate to hear from our amazing Keynote Speaker, retired Navy SEAL and best-selling author, LT Jason Redman. Jason shared his inspiring story of 21 years serving with the U.S. Navy SEAL teams and his experience in 2007, when he was severely wounded when his team came under heavy machine gun fire outside of Fallujah, Iraq. Attendees were motivated and inspired by Jason's story and message on how to overcome failure and adversity by getting off the "X".

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: Dr. Steve Sampson (Founder, Institute for Social Intelligence; Chief Deputy Mike Haley, Ph.D. (Washington Parish Sheriff's Office, LA); Rachel Love (Partner, Struck Love Bojanowski, Acedo, PLC); Blake Hamilton (Partner, Dentons Durham Jones & Pinegar P.C.); Barbara Gould (Owner, Gould Consulting, LLC); Jack Enter (President, Jack E. Enter & Associates); Rob Yantis (Jail Commander, Pennington County Sheriff's Office, SD); Sean Stewart, NCCE (Consultant, Stewart Criminal Justice Consulting); Keith Hoskins (Central Region Administrator, NIJO and Ret. Jail Administrator, Boone County Sheriff's Office, MO); Megan Kennedy, RN, CCHP (Director of Health Services, Cochise County Sheriff's Office, AZ); Bill Wilson (Jail Services Coordinator, Indiana Sheriffs' Association, IN); Kimble Richardson, MS, LMHC, LCSW, LMFT, LCAC (Manager, Business Development and Referrals, Community Health Network); Lt. Nancy Killian (Utah County Sheriff's Office, UT); and Tate McCotter (Executive Director, NIJO).

Topics during the break out sessions ranged from the "The Role of Training, Mentoring and Accountability in Jail Personnel & Managers", and "Conflict Management Techniques" to "Above All We Rise: Correctional Wellness" and "In-Custody Death Investigations". There was also a 4-person Panel on "Emerging Legal Issues in Corrections". The panel consisted of NIJO Executive Director, Tate McCotter, attorneys Blake Hamilton (Partner, Dentons Durham Jones Pinegar) and Rachel Love (Partner, Struck Love Bojanowski & Acedo PLC), Bill Wilson (Jail Services Coordinator, Indiana Sheriffs' Association).

Sessions throughout the conference were targeted for all levels of corrections from sheriff and jail administrator to line level staff, including a special session just for medical professionals in corrections.

During the afternoon session, sponsors and exhibitors set up in the Exhibit Area, then everyone attended a Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall where attendees were able to meet Jason Redman, and visit with each other, and conference instructors and sponsors and exhibitors.

DAY 2 - October 12, 2022
The second day started with a General Session with Sheriff Terry Jungel (Retired/Former Executive Director of the Michigan Sheriffs' Association), Steve Luce (Executive Director, Indiana Sheriffs' Association), featured special guest the Honorable Christopher M. Goff, Indiana Supreme Court Justice, and Tate McCotter (NIJO Executive Director).

After the conclusion of the morning General Session, attendees gathered in the Exhibit Area to visit with 31 corrections-specific vendors to learn more about their products and services. NIJO and all conference attendees, express our gratitude to all of our sponsors and exhibitors for their support at JAILCON which helps provide over 30 hours of legal-based training for corrections professionals.

The afternoon of the second day consisted of two more 1.5 hour training sessions offering five topics per session. Topics during the afternoon training consisted of titles such as "FBI Codebreaking in Jails", "Inmate Classification", "Games Inmates Play", and "Hot Issues with Religious Rights Lawsuits". Training sessions on the 2nd day were taught by: David Simpson ( Forensic Examiner, Cryptanalysis & Racketeering Records Unit, FBI); Rachel Love (Partner, Struck Love Bojanowski & Acedo PLC); Keith Hoskins (Central Region Administrator, NIJO and Ret. Jail Administrator, Boone County Sheriff's Office, MO); Bill Wilson (Jail Services Coordinator, Indiana Sheriffs' Association); Steve Sampson, Ph.D. (Retired, College of Justice & Safety, Kentucky State University); Megan Kennedy, RN, CCHP (Director, Detention Health Services, Cochise County Sheriff's Office, AZ); Chief Deputy Mike Haley, Ph.D. (Washington Parish Sheriff's Office, LA); Barbara Gould (Owner, Gould Consulting LLC); Lt. Nancy Killian (Utah County Sheriff's Office, UT); Blake Hamilton (Partner, Dentons Durham Jones Pingar); Rob Yantis (Jail Commander, Pennington County Sheriff's Office, SD).

In addition to these sessions, there was a 6-person panel discussing MAT and dealing with Opioids in jails. The panel consisted of: Blake Hamilton (Partner, Dentons Durham Jones Pingar), Rebecca Buhner (Program Director, Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addition), Doug Huntsinger (Executive Director for Drug Prevention, Treatment and Enforcement for the State of Indiana), Kristen Daus, Megan Kennedy RN, CCHP (Director, Detention Health Services, Cochise County Sheriff's Office, AZ), and Steve Luce (Executive Director, Indiana Sheriffs' Association).

Sadly, our plans for our Corrections Appreciation Event on Wednesday evening had to be altered due to rain. This required us to make a change from the 60 attendees who planned to compete for the JAILCON Cup in the "Snitch and Ditch 1320" at the Lucas Oil Indianapolois Raceway to 70 attendees competing in a revised "Snitch & Ditch Go Cart Race". However, despite the last minute change, everyone had a great time go kart racing and fortunately, even though there were a few hair-raising crashes, everyone survived and had tons of fun! It was no surprise that corrections professionals are highly competitive individuals! Since we weren't able to race two cars, as planned at the Lucas Oil Raceway, we selected champions from our vendors and attendees as follows:

ATTENDEES:

1st Place and Winner of the JAILCON Cup - Rich Kaumo / Sweetwater County, WY
2nd Place - Erik Crooks / Clay County, FL
3rd Place - Rogerick Shannon / Lake County, IN

VENDORS:

1st Place - Brian Apgar / Smart Communications
2nd Place - Trent Peterson / Rubicon AI
3rd Place - Jason Lawrence / TurnKey Corrections

DAY 3 - October 13, 2022
The final day of the conference started off with two 1.5 hour training sessions offering five topics per session. Sessions during the morning included such topics as: "Americans with Disabilities Act", "Response to Resistance (Use of Force)", and "Key and Tool Control". Training sessions during these sessions were taught by: Aaron Dawson (Warden, Morgan County Sheriff's Office, AL); Jason Gould (Jail Commander, Genesee County Sheriff's Office, MI); Keith Hoskins (Central Region Administrator, NIJO and Ret. Jail Administrator, Boone County Sheriff's Office, MO); Rachel Love (Partner, Struck Love Bojanowski and Acedo); Cisco Ortiz (Vice President Student Affairs, Trine University); Sean Stewart, NCCE (Consultant, Stewart Criminal Justice Consulting); Bill Wilson (Jail Services Coordinator, Indiana Sheriffs' Association); and Rob Yantis (Jail Commander, Pennington County Sheriff's Office, SD).

The final event of the conference was an inspiring Awards Ceremony and Luncheon where correctional professionals and agencies from the region were recognized for their dedication and excellence in the corrections profession throughout their careers, especially during this past year. NIJO Executive Director, Tate McCotter, presented the JAILCON22 Central Region Corrections Professionals Awards.
(Read more about the Awards Ceremony: JAILCON22 Central Region Corrections Professionals Awards).

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By JAILCON October 18, 2022
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18Oct

JAILCON22 Central Region Corrections Professionals Awards

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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 JAILCON22 Central Regional Conference on Thursday, October 13th, 2022, at the Events Center at the Embassy Suites Plainfield in Indianapolis, IN. NIJO Executive Director, Tate McCotter, presented awards to the recipients of the JAILCON22 Central Region Corrections Professionals Awards. McCotter also recognized agencies and individuals who had earned NIJO National Accreditation and Professional Certification.
NIJO wishes to extend our congratulations to the following award recipients.

CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR

Jessica Habiger
Training Officer, Johnson County Sheriff's Office (KS)

Assigned to the Property Room in the Detention Center, Jessica has a firm understanding of the necessity of accurately inventorying inmate property, both upon their initial booking and during their stay. In the short time Jessica has been with the Sheriff’s Office, she has demonstrated her ability to look at issues, not as problems to hinder progress, but as challenges for growth and opportunities to enhance efficiencies. Jessica has made a personal goal of inspecting any excess property storage bins, as well as the special Covid quarantine bins, to ensure the property has been properly inventoried and recorded. Although this is a time-consuming task, by resolving these discrepancies in a timely manner, she is saving staff countless man-hours, which would have to be expended if the discrepancies were not discovered until the inmate was being released from custody. Not only has Jessica saved the Sheriff’s Office staff significant man-hours, she has also taken proactive steps to minimize costs to the Sheriff’s Office from having to purchase or replace lost property. Jessica has also accepted the responsibilities of a Training Officer and takes great pride in training new staff. She continues to demonstrate her goal of making everyone successful, playing a vital role in the success of others and providing the citizens of Johnson County with the highest level of professionalism and service. Jessica is a positive influence amongst her peers and is highly respected for her positive attitude, leadership abilities and willingness to lead by example.

HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Christy Dow
Clay County Sheriff's Office, MO

In 2021 Clay County Detention suffered from an extreme lack of trust amongst the operational staff and the medical department. There had been issues building over some time and the distrust continued to build until it hit a breaking point on 05/03/2021. On that date, an inmate died in custody. The level of cooperation between medical and operations became non-existent. This was not a tenable situation and required immediate attention. Not long after, ACH on boarded Miss Christy Dow as the new Medical Manager. Christy attacked the situation with great gusto and care. She understood why there was an issue and was not daunted by the task. She started with making sure her staff was aware of their duties and responsibilities, then making sure they followed them. Since taking over the level of trust and cooperation between medical has been greatly improved. Not only are the medical persons training, but, Christy has been having operations staff train with medical persons as well. More importantly, there became a line of communication between medical and operations that had been lacking prior to Christy’s arrival. It is not hyperbole to say that having Christy as the Clay County Medical Manager has been one of the best moves made in all of 2021.

DETENTION OFFICER OF THE YEAR

Brenda Honaker
Parke County Sheriff's Office, IN

Brenda is well liked by jail staff and administration. She is willing to work extra and come in to work on her day off when needed day or night even if she is out doing what her and her husband love which is camping. Brenda is professional and takes her job seriously. She is fair and consistent with all inmates and they respect her for that. We are a small rural jail and the pay is very low which makes retaining staff even more difficult. Brenda is dedicated to her career and our department is very appreciative of her. Brenda has worked for us twice and missed the type of career and ever-changing pace and style once she left. She can effectively communicate with co-workers and inmates. She has also proven that she isn’t afraid to jump in and break up physical altercations or to rescue an inmate who is being severely beaten by multiple inmates. Brenda can be relied upon for her leadership skills and devotion to this profession.

DETENTION SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR

Joshua Webster
Story County Sheriff's Office, IA Joshua Webster has always been a positive role model to many jail officers, especially newer ones. From his nominee, “As one of the senior officers on my shift, I look back at Webster being the role model, setting the standard, and giving me the tools I needed to succeed.” Webster is an excellent leader in that there have been times where staff feel he has really had their back in decisions they made that have gone "up the chain", while still being able to recall times where he was able to effectively redirect or council staff on decisions they could have made differently. Webster, although being the most senior detention supervisor below the Assistant Jail Admin or Jail Admin level, makes it a point at even this point in his career to socialize and care for his officers. If you have any question as to why Webster deserves this award, consider this: He has his own private office he could lock himself in if he wanted, but instead can be found having dinner with his officers in inmate housing areas every night of the week. From his nominee, “At the end of the day, I strongly feel that it is the small things like this that truly showcase a person's character. I have no doubt in my mind that Webster is an excellent leader with outstanding character.”

DETENTION ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR

Steve Lawrence
Porter County Sheriff's Office, IN After serving in the US Navy, Steve began working at the Porter County Sheriff’s Office jail in 1988 and later serving in the patrol division. He has served as a Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Major, Detective Commander and Chief Deputy. In 2015, Sheriff David Reynolds selected Steve to be his Jail Commander. As a Jail Administrator Steve has always relied on his “team” to move the organization forward. Steve is defined as a “we” and not an “I” person. During the initial phase of the “Covid 19 Pandemic,” Steve and his team developed and released to Indiana County Jails the first COVID-19 screening tool to identify inmates that may have had exposure to the disease. Meanwhile, Steve purchased lunches for his crew to staff during difficult overtime shifts to lift the morale of jail staff. He has been a strong supporter of training and has continually authorized training to increase skills, knowledge, and professionalism. Of note, he developed a relationship with the Indiana Department of Health to decrease the amount of time inmates with mental illness were sitting in their jail. While being the administrator, he remains “hands-on.” His style of leadership includes working with county officials to secure necessary resources for staff to fulfill their responsibilities and get the job done. He has dealt personally with inmate issues, medical concerns and matters with the court. Steve worked closely with his Sheriff to help state Officials create and shape policies in aiding bail reform, racial equity and other pilot programs. He is well respected among the jails in the state of Indiana and is a “go to” man for answers and perhaps even more importantly an example of how to do things right.

DETENTION FACILITY INNOVATION AWARD

Boone County Sheriff's Office, MO
Like many other facilities the COVID pandemic forced Boone County jail to alter course in many ways. For many years, the Boone County Jail had limited video court capabilities with only one video unit serviceable for 7 criminal court divisions. In addition, the courthouse is 5 miles from the jail and with staffing at an all-time low, transporting detainees to and from was difficult. In order to meet the needs of the court and account for the importance of limiting the potential spread of illness, the Boone County Jail renovated internal areas of the facility and added video units to a total of 4. This allowed many more detainees to stay within the facility and still meet the needs of the judicial process. Doing this required constructing a wall, adding wifi, installation of sound proofing, video systems, and jail security cameras. The facility worked in conjunction with the presiding judge, court administrator, county and court I.T., and facility maintenance in order to provide court in a safe environment. When several obstacles occurred at once; staffing and pandemic, some outside the box thinking led to a solution that will provide long term benefits.

DETENTION FACILITY INNOVATION AWARD

Genesee County Sheriff's Office, MI
In September 2020, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, located in Flint, Michigan, lead by Sheriff Christopher Swanson, launched IGNITE. IGNITE consists of a series of educational programs and opportunities fueled by rewards or approbations and is designed to promote a positive change with the inmates of the Genesee County jail. The residual benefits seen by those involved in IGNITE addresses Generational Incarceration, Race Relations, and Community Trust just to name a few. IGNITE is based on meritocracy, and results in the restoration of hope and value in many of the participants. Many inmates began to realize they don’t have to return to the same negative environment they were in prior to their arrest. Since the launch, the Genesee County Jail has documented more than 200,000 teaching hours, a 96% reduction in violence in the jail and increased the morale of the staff.

DEDICATION TO EXCELLENCE AWARD

Karla Pleiman
Shelby County Sheriff's Office, OH
Lt. Karla Pleiman goes above and beyond to ensure the safety and security of the facility and her staff. At the end of 2020 our jail opened up a new intake center built to help ensure the safety our staff and inmates. This facility has a separate ventilation system that can easily be shut down by pressing a button in case of a fentanyl exposure while patting down new inmates. Lt. Pleiman was instrumental in helping oversee this project until its completion. She also ensures that staff not only get the necessary training each year but additional training to stay up to date on the latest issues. When Covid struck she implemented new policies and procedures from intake all the way down to how cleaning was to be done to help ensure that staff and inmates were safe and secure. She gave us training that not only helped keep the staff and inmates safe but it gave their families peace of mind knowing that we were doing everything possible to keep their loved one safe while incarcerated throughout this pandemic. Lt. Pleiman also is an excellent example of teamwork. She has no problem coming out of her office and responding to a fight or other incidents in the jail. She has helped pat down inmates, shower and process them and even has helped put some in the restraint chair. She also answers RFA’s and talks to inmates or their families when they request to speak to her. Lt. Pleiman is also actively involved in MAT, Stepping Up Initiative, Mercy Mission House, New Choices (which is a shelter for Domestic Violence Victims), STAR House (Sheriff's Treatment and Recovery), etc. She is a huge asset as she believes in rehabilitation of inmates and helps them seek treatment.

DISTINGUISHED VALOR AWARD

Ivan Sample
Louisville Metro Corrections, KY
Officer Ivan Sample understands the importance of treating incarcerated individuals as human beings rather than just inmates. The neighborhood in which he was raised was plagued by gangs, drugs and violence. The young Ivan Sample began to become a product of his environment, getting into trouble and was heading down the wrong path. At a young age, he was introduced to the Catholic Church which faith he credits for his path change. He takes the time to personally get to know the persons that are under his supervision. In a very short period of time in 2021, Officer Sample played a vital role in saving the lives of 5 people that were under the supervision of LMDC. One instance, there were 2 inmates that had overdosed on an unknown substance, Officer Sample and others came to their aid, providing multiple doses of Narcan, and administering CPR until both individuals were revived. A very short time later, that same day, an inmate in a Segregation Unit attempted to hang themselves. Officer Sample was the 2nd officer on the scene, and managed to lift the person up, remove the ligature, carry them out into the dayroom, and again begin CPR until more advance medical personnel arrived. Officer Sample, within a week of those instances, saved 2 more individuals who were overdosing from unknown substances, by dosing them with Narcan and also performing CPR. When asked about the incidents Sample said, "I was just doing my job. I give credit to those other officers that helped me. Without a team we wouldn't have been able to accomplish what we needed to accomplish.” About Officer Sample, his Captain said, “I take pride in knowing that he is one of my men. He conducts himself professionally daily and has a level of integrity that cannot be matched by many.”

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S AWARD
The NIJO Executive Director's Award recognizes extraordinary service to the detention and corrections field by an individual based on leadership, knowledge and contributions to the corrections profession.

Bill Wilson
Jail Services Director, Indiana Sheriffs' Association This individual has no idea this is being awarded, so this will be fun for me to announce and a privilege as well. Bill Wilson has over 3 decades of experience working in corrections, starting as a correctional officer and working his way up to the be jail administrator for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office in Bloomington, Indiana – a position which he held for 16 years. Having worked in corrections at all levels, he has a truly unique perspective on corrections.    Among other things, he now works as the Jail Services Coordinator for the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association, where he helps jails improve their operation, management, efficiency, and professionalism, aid them in complying with state and federal law, assist them in managing risk, and eliminate issues that may lead to litigation. He has provided professional evaluation, consulting, and training services to elected officials, jail management personnel, and correctional officers on a wide variety of topics including:

the constitutional operation and staffing of jail facilities;

inmate classification and disciplinary procedures;

suicide detection and prevention;

jail security;

admissions and releases;

managing inmate populations in overcrowding situations;

handling of staff issues, including data driven staffing analysis;

drafting and/or review written policies and procedures;

assisting with grant applications;

as an expert witness;

for the past 23 years served as an instructor for the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, Jailers School;

Member of the Indiana Council on Community Mental Health Centers Criminal Justice Committee;

Adjunct Instructor, Criminal Justice Department at Ivy Tech University

I have known Bill for the better part of 15 years.   His mentor, a well respected attorney by the name of Lynn Lund, preached the importance of knowing correctional law and Bill became his star convert. When you have questions, who do you trust and turn to that will provide you solid answers you can take to the bank? For many in this room, it is this man, Bill Wilson. He is a great resource and one who cares deeply about this profession. He was instrumental in making this conference a success and we are blessed to have him here. I wish Pam could be here but so she doesn’t think you are lying when you tell her about this, here is a nice momento.

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 Executive (NCCE) Certification was awarded to:

Barbara Gould, Gould Consulting LLC

Kevin Hay, Wayne County, IN

Damon Reynolds, Boone County, MO

National Certified Corrections Officer (NCCO) Certification was awarded to the following individuals:

Brandi Vance, Livingston County, IL

Michael Wittrock, Story County, IA

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 Guidelines^TM 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.

Wayne County, IN
Wayne County was the 1^st county in Indiana to receive accreditation in 2015. Since then, Baldwin has maintained their accreditation and just finished their Year 3 of their second cycle for their Level 1 accreditation.

Boone County, MO
Boone County was the 1^st county in the state of Missouri to receive NIJO Accreditation in 2017. In July 2022, Boone county received their onsite inspection and fulfilled the requirements for a Level 2 accreditation for their second accreditation cycle.

Pennington County, SD
Pennington County was the 1^st to receive their accreditation in the state of South Dakota. This being their first accreditation cycle, inspectors were impressed with the professionalism and order of the staff and the facility. Pennington County received a Level 1 accreditation in November 2021, the highest accreditation offered by the National Institute for Jail Operations (NIJO).

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: JAILCON22 Central Regional Conference Summary

By JAILCON October 18, 2022
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