The National Institute for Jail Operations proudly reports the success of the JAILCON24 Southern Regional Conference at the Renaissance Riverview Hotel in Mobile, Alabama, the 8th annual corrections training conference for the Southern Region.
The conference sold out this year, having over 265 corrections professionals from several states including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming in attendance.
DAY 1 - September 27, 2024
As always, the conference began with our Opening Session. Starting with a flag ceremony presented by the Black Hats from the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office (AL). Next Executive Director, Tate McCotter led all in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance, and a member of the Black Hats sang a moving rendition of the National Anthem. Welcome remarks were then given by host agency representatives: Sheriff Paul Burch, Mobile County (AL), Sheriff Donald Valenza, Houston 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: Blake Hamilton (Partner, Dentons Durham Jones & Pinegar P.C.); Keith Hoskins (National Training Administrator, NIJO and Ret. Jail Administrator, Boone County Sheriff’s Office, MO); Nick Morisani (Counsel, Phelps Dunbar LLP); Johnny Knatt (JJK Workplace, LLC); Matt Thomas (Chief Deputy/Executive Officer, Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, AZ); Joshua Arnold (Director of Operations, NIJO); Megan Kennedy, RN, CCHP, (Director – Detention Health Services, Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, AZ); Aaron Dawson (Ret. Warden, Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, AL and Executive Director of the Alabama Jail Administrators’ Council); Rob Yantis (Jail Commander, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, SD); Rachel Love (Partner, Struck Love Bojanowski & Acedo PLC); Sean Stewart (Consultant, Stewart Criminal Justice Consulting); and JaNan Arnold Thomas (RMS Litigation Counsel, Arkansas Association of Counties). 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 during the Welcome Reception with live music performed by local guitarist, Ken Rothacker, giving the perfect background music. The Welcome Reception included hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and lots of prize giveaways sponsored by our generous sponsors. Also in attendance at the Welcome Reception were the Mobile Azalea Trail Maids. They greeted guests as they arrived and brought a certain southern charm to the Welcome Reception.
DAY 2 - September 28, 2024
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 was Bernard B. Kerik. Mr. Kerik is one of the most dynamic and accomplished leaders in law enforcement, corrections, and national security in the United States. Likely the most notable moment of Mr. Kerik’s career was when he served as New York City’s 40th Police Commissioner, serving during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He was on the scene just minutes after the first hijacked airliner flew into Tower One of the World Trade Center. He worked alongside Mayor Rudy Giuliani to oversee the NYPD’s response, rescue, recovery, and investigative efforts of the most substantial terrorist attack on American soil. Additionally, Mr. Kerik has spent ten years working in the Middle East and has been recognized in more than 100 awards for meritorious and heroic service, including a presidential commendation for heroism by President Ronald Reagan, two Distinguished Service Awards from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and an appointment as Honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Following the Keynote Session, attendees gathered together in the Exhibit Hall to visit with the nearly 60 corrections-specific vendors in attendance. Bernard Kerik also joined us in the Exhibit Hall for a meet and greet with attendees. We’d like to express our deepest appreciation to all of our vendors and especially our sponsors, for supporting JAILCON.
The afternoon was spent in two more 90 minute training sessions. Topics ranged from, “What You Do Matters: Lessons from the Holocaust,” “The Future of Qualified Immunity” “PANEL: Legal Issues & Updates,” “Armchair Quarterback: Use of Force Review Using Reports & Videos,” “You Took the Promotion–Now it’s Time to Lead,” “Policy Writing,” “Lawsuits–The Operational Impacts and ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’,” and “Driving the Road of Your Leadership.” Training Sessions were taught by: Paul Laney (President/CEO, PDL Connect Consulting); Mary Phillippi (President/CFO, PDL Connect Consulting); Blake Hamilton (Partner, Dentons Durham Jones & Pinegar P.C.); Bill Wilson (Jail Services Coordinator, Indiana Sheriffs’ Association); JaNan Thomas (RMS Litigation Counsel, Arkansas Association of Counties); Glenn Ercanbrack (Deputy Director, Adult Probation & Parole (Ret.), Utah Department of Corrections); Lance Oehrlein (Special Victimes Prosecutor, New Hanover County Attorney’s Office, NC); Rachel Love (Partner, Struck Love Bojanowski & Acedo PLC); Tate McCotter, CJM (Executive Director, NIJO); Nick Morisani (Counsel, Phelps Dunbar LLP); Rob Yantis (Jail Commander, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, SD); Joshua Arnold (Director of Operations, NIJO); and Keith Hoskins (National Training Administrator, NIJO and Ret. Jail Administrator, Boone County Sheriff’s Office, MO).
That evening attendees were buzzing with excitement as we waited for the highly-anticipated Mardi Gras Parade! The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office planned an amazing Mardi Gras parade to celebrate and honor Corrections Officers and their families. We were overwhelmed by the support the city of Mobile showed during the parade. We express our deep appreciation to our committee members at the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, Warden Houston, Deputy Warden Mitchell, Lt. Wallace, Larkisha, Ken, and Lori for the countless hours they spent planning and implementing an amazing Mardi Gras Parade!
Following the parade attendees gathered at the Mobile Carnival Museum for live jazz music performed by Mobile’s famed Excelsior Band, a ten piece marching brass band that has marched the streets of downtown Mobile for over 100 years playing Dixieland and conventional jazz. Attendees toured the museum to learn about the history of Mardi Gras in MObile and to see the intricate designs of crowns, scepters, and robes of past Mardi Gras kings and queens. Guests were treated to a plethora of scrumptious southern foods from fried catfish, cheese grits, and shrimp cocktail to King Cake, pralines, and moon pies catered by Kendall Gunn Catering. It was a night to remember and our favorite Corrections Appreciation Event we’ve ever had at a JAILCON conference. We want to express our sincerest gratitude to everyone who came, participated, donated, and supported this event!
View Local News Footage from the parade at these news below:
“Visiting corrections officers treated to steamy Mobile Mardi Gras Parade” by by Darwin Singleton, UTV44
“Jailcon Mardi Gras Parade Puts on Show for Out-of-Towners” by Lee Peck, Fox 10 TV
DAY 3 - September 29, 2024
The final day of the conference offered three 1.25 hour training sessions. Topics from our third day of training included, “How to Deal with Games Inmates Play,” “Decision-Making for First Line Supervisors” “Square Dancing with Government Stakeholders,” “Calling the Shots: How to Maintain Control of Your Message to Your Communities,” and “Don’t Be Afraid of the Big Bad Attorney.” Trainers for our final day of classes included: Glenn Ercanbrack (Deputy Director, Adult Probation & Parole (Ret.), Utah Department of Corrections); Sean Stewart (Consultant, Stewart Criminal Justice Consulting); Rob Yantis (Jail Commander, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, SD); Chief Deputy Mike Haley, Ph.D. (Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, LA); Matt Hedrick (Deputy Chief, Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, AZ); Wanda Rahman (County Attorney, Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, AL); Lance Oehrlein (Special Victimes Prosecutor, New Hanover County Attorney’s Office, NC); Mark Kissel (Operations Manger, GPS3); and Aaron Dawson (Ret. Warden, Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, AL and Executive Director of the Alabama Jail Administrators’ Council).
To end our conference we hosted 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 JAILCON24 Awards on behalf of the National Institute for Jail Operations. You can read more about the awards and the recipients here.
