Candidates for the 2002 ACA election
This year's slate of candidates was selected by ACA's Nominating Committee during its meeting Nov. 15, 2001. Candidates were chosen for president-elect, vice president and treasurer positions, along with a full slate of nominees to the Board of Governors, Commission on Accreditation for Corrections
Officers
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 203President-Elect
Gwendolyn C. Chunn
Executive Director, Juvenile Justice Institute, Department of Criminal Justice, North Carolina Central University
Gwendolyn C. Chunn served as director of the Division of Youth Services (DYS) of the North Carolina Department of Human Resources from 1989 to 1999, having begun as a trainer with DYS in 1977. She obtained a bachelor's degree from North Carolina Central University and completed a master's degree and doctoral course work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Chunn is the recipient of several fellowships and has graduated from many specialty workshops for government and educational leaders. In 1990, she was elected to ACA's Board of Governors and currently serves as ACA's vice president. Chunn is a 1999 recipient of the E.R Cass Correctional Achievement Award.
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 208Elaine Little
Director, North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Bismarck, N.D.
Elaine Little has served as director of the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation since its creation in 1989. She is responsible for adult prisons, parole and probation, juvenile institutional and community services, state jail inspections and county correctional officer training. Little graduated from Dickinson State University with a bachelor's degree in business administration. She has been an ACA member since 1982 and currently serves on the Legislative Affairs and Awards committees. She has been a member of the Association of State Correctional Administrators since 1986 and served as its president from 1994 to 1996. Little received the Association's Michael Francke Award in 1995.
Vice President
Wayne Scott
Board Member, Texas Board of Pardons and Parole
Wayne Scott began his career in 1972 as a correctional officer with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He rose through the ranks to become warden of the Ellis II facility in 1984. After two years as a warden, Scott moved to the department's central administration and became executive director of the department in 1996. Upon his retirement in 2001, he was appointed to a six-year term on the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. Scott graduated from Sam Houston State University in 1973 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He continues to serve the university on its College of Business Administration Advisory Board. Sam Houston State University recognized him in 2000 as a Distinguished Alumnus. Scott is an active member of ACA, serving the past eight years on the Policy and Resolutions Committee and for the past four years on the Standards Committee.
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 213IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 218Terry L. Stewart
Director, Arizona Department of Corrections, Phoenix
Terry L. Stewart began his career with the Arizona Department of Corrections in 1985 and has served as director since 1995. He has been associated with law enforcement and management for 30 years. Stewart currently serves as chairman of the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission and as a member of the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board. He is a member of the Arizona Drug and Gang Policy Council and is on the Executive Committee of the U.S. Attorney's Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee. Stewart also serves as treasurer of the Association of State Correctional Administrators (ASCA). Additionally, he is chairman for both the ASCA Staff Safety Committee and the ACA Staff Safety and Disturbance Preparedness Committee. Stewart graduated from Arizona State University in 1975 with a bachelor's degree in business. In 1978, he received a master's degree in business administration from Arizona State University. Stewart also has completed all course work for a doctorate degree in public administration. Treasurer
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 222Harold W. Clarke
Director, Nebraska Department of Correctional Services
Harold W. Clarke's career with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services began with an entry-level position in 1974. After holding 11 different positions, he was appointed director by former Gov. Kay Orr in 1990, reappointed by former Gov. E. Benjamin Nelson in 1991 and reappointed by Gov. Mike Johanns in 1999. Clarke is a past member of ACA's Board of Governors and past vice-chair of ACA's Ethics Committee. He was an auditor for the Coi.,mission on Accreditation for Corrections and was elected a commissioner in 2000. He is a past president of the Association of State Correctional Administrators and recipient of the 1997 Michael Francke Award. Clarke serves on several local boards, including the Lincoln Public Schools Foundation, the Child Advocacy Center and the Lincoln Council on Alcoholism and Drugs.
Albert Murray
Commissioner, Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority
Albert Murray has worked in corrections since 1970. He began his career at the entry level with the Tennessee Department of Correction. He currently serves as commissioner of the Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority, an agency he founded in 1997. Previously, Murray helped establish two other state agencies in Tennessee. As an assistant commissioner, he helped institute the Tennessee Department of Youth Development. Several years later, he helped establish the Tennessee Department of Children's Services. Murray currently serves on ACA's Board of Governors and was treasurer of the Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators and an auditor for both juvenile and adult programs. He is a member of the Kansas Correctional Association and previously served as president of the Tennessee Correctional Association.
Board of Governors
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 226IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 231Aftercare or Post-Release Supervision (Juvenile)
David A. Gaspar
Director, Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections
David A. Gaspar has dedicated 25 years of service to the people of Arizona, bringing mental health clinician credentials to the field of criminal justice. He holds a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in counseling from West Virginia University. His criminal justice career began at the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) as psychologist. At ADC, Gaspar was diagnostic administrator, assistant superintendent, superintendent and assistant director. Later, he was deputy director of a private community mental health program. Gaspar also served as chief operating officer of a comprehensive mental health organization in Tucson. Currently, he is director of the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections (ADJC), which includes an award-winning aftercare/post-release program. Under his leadership, ADJC was freed from federal court supervision and emerged as a national juvenile justice model. Gaspar received the National Public Service Award for 2001 from the American Society for Public Administration. He currently serves as president of the Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators.
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 236Jerry L. Harper
Director, California Youth Authority, Sacremento, Calif.
Jerry L. Harper was appointed director of the California Youth Authority in 2000 by Gov. Gray Davis. Prior to this appointment, he served as a private consultant and teacher on a variety of law enforcement issues. He has nrd consultation to the federal departments of State and Justice. In addition, Harper has lectured on issues ranging from crowd management, riot control, media relations and civil police leadership for foreign governments in Canada, France and Indonesia. During his 37-year tenure with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Harper has served in a variety of positions, including undersheriff and assistant sheriff. He began his career in law enforcement as custody deputy, supervising inmates in the medical unit of the Mira Loma Jail in 1962. Later, he was promoted to sergeant and handled juvenile cases. In addition, he served as one of the first supervisors for the SWAT team in 1972. In 1978, then Sheriff Peter Pitchess delegated Harper as head of planning for the department's involvement with security for the 1984 Olympic Games. He earned a bachelor's degree in police administration from California State University, Long Beach, in 1966, and a master's degree in public administration from California State University, Los Angeles, in 1973. Harper was credentialed by the National Executive Institute, FBI, in 1984.
At-Large Ethnic Minority
Jeanna Gomez
Owner, Gomez Counseling and Consulting Services, New Mexico
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 241Jeanna Gomez has held various positions in the corrections field, including adult probation officer, female residential program manager, assistant facility director/supervisor, program director and mental health director. She received a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Texas and a master's degree in social work from the University of Houston. Gomez is a licensed independent social worker as well as an alcohol and drug abuse counselor, and a clinically certified forensic counselor. Gomez is president of New Mexico Women in Corrections, a position she has held for three years. She is immediate past president of the New Mexico Correctional Association (NMCA) and has served as the appointed ACA Delegate Assembly representative for NMCA for the past three years. Gomez is a member of ACA's Mental Health Committee and an ACA auditor.
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 246Jonah Kuhio Kaauwai
Program Manager, Hawaii Correctional Industries
Jonah Kuhio Kaauwai received a bachelor's degree in business with a concentration in marketing from Boston College in 1994. He had more than five years ol experience in business prior to joining Hawaii Correctional Industries in 2000. Kaauwai appreciates and respects people and cares deeply about helping them reach their highest potential. He can discern what works and what does not and inspire action based on shared values. Kaauwai currently is president of the Hawaii Criminal Justice Association, an ACA affiliate.
Evelyn Ridley-Turner
Commissioner, Indiana Department of Correction
For the past 27 years, Evelyn Ridley-- Turner has worked for the Indiana Department of Correction. On Feb. 1, 2001, she was appointed commissioner, becoming the first female to head the agency. Prior to her appointment, Ridley-Turner was deputy commissioner for the Juvenile Services Division for eight years. She has held other key positions within the department, including supervisor of community correctional services, staff counsel and director of the Division of Internal Audits. She currently serves on the ACA Standards Committee and the Children's Initiative Committee, and she is a past president of the Indiana Correctional Association. Ridley-Turner earned a bachelor's degree from Indiana University and a jurisprudence degree at the Indiana University School of Law.
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 250IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 254Eugene P. Walker
Board Member, Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles
Eugene P. Walker received his bachelor's degree in social science from Clark College in 1958, his master's degree in history from Atlanta University in 1969 and his doctorate degree in history from Duke University in 1978. For nearly 10 years, he taught high school history and social studies. In 1969, he served as professor of history at Clark College. In 1984, Walker was elected Georgia state senator and served in that capacity until 1992. He has been, and continues to be, a member of several civic, community and professional groups, including Literacy Action Inc., United Cerebral Palsy, John Marshall School of Law, DeKalb County chapter of 100 Black Men of America Inc., the Butler Street YMCA and the DeKalb chapter of the American Red Cross. In 1995, Walker was appointed by Gov. Zell Miller as commissioner of the Department of Juvenile Justice. He served in this capacity until 1999, when Gov. Roy Barnes appointed him to the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles for a sevenyear term.
At-Large Citizen
Mary Ann Saar
State Director of U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, Maryland
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 258Mary Ann Saar has worked in the fields of criminal and juvenile justice since 1965. Her many positions have included probation officer, assistant state's attorney, director of the Mayor's Coordinating Council on Criminal Justice, the governor's public safety adviser, secretary of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services and associate commissioner for juvenile services for the state of Maine. She received a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Maryland and a law degree from the University of Maryland Law School. She also is a graduate of the Harvard University Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government. Saar was president and vice president of the National Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators. She also has served ACA as a member of the National Task Force on Violence and the Restorative Justice and Nominating committees. She was a member of ACA's Delegate Assembly in 1997.
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 263Tom Smith
Arizona State Senator
Tom Smith received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Roosevelt University in Chicago. He received elementary and secondary teaching and administrative certificates and a master's degree from Arizona State University in Tempe. Smith served in the U.S. Marine Corps (Infantry) for 24 years. He served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam and retired as a lieutenant colonel. Smith became an educator in the Scottsdale school district and was a teacher, principal and a member of the District Governing Board, retiring from education after 17 years. He was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives, and during his eight years there, he was chairman of the Public Institutions, Judiciary, and Public Institutions and Universities committees. He was elected to the state Senate, and he currently is in his second term. Smith has served as chairman of the Rule Committee, Appropriations Subcommittee and vice chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He is a member of the Rules, Education, Judiciary, and Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment committees. Smith has visited all the prisons and juvenile detention centers in the state of Arizona.
Parole or Post-Release Supervision (Adult)
Richard J. Nimer
Director of Program Services, Florida Department of Corrections
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 267Richard J. Nimer began his career with the Florida Department of Corrections in 1984 as a correctional training officer and was promoted to assistant to the secretary in 1985. Between 1987 and 1993, he held the positions of community supervision administrator, correctional programs administrator and was promoted to chief of the Bureau of Programs and Quality in 1997. In May 1999, Secretary Michael W. Moore appointed Nimer director of program services. This office is responsible for program development, management, oversight and delivery of all departmental programs to offenders. Nimer received his bachelor's degree from Loyola University in New Orleans and his master's degree from Florida State University. He has been an active member of ACA since 1985, currently serving on the Substance Abuse Committee. He also is on the Board of Directors of the American Probation and Parole Association.
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 272George Yefchak
Deputy Executive Director, State Parole Board, New Jersey
George Yefchak has been involved in corrections for 30 years. He started his career as a parole officer before moving to the field of juvenile corrections, in which he worked for the next 16 years in residential programs and also as superintendent of a training school. Yefchak later worked for the state parole board and for the Division of Parole and Community Programs. Since December 2000, he has been deputy executive director of the New Jersey State Parole Board. Yefchak is serving his fourth term as president of the New Jersey chapter of ACA. He has been active on a variety of committees, including chairing the conference committee for seven years and working on the Spring Forum, Women Working in Criminal Justice and training programs. He is on ACA's Ethics Committee, Constitution and Bylaws Committee, Conference Program Committee, Certification Board and Delegate Assembly. Yefchak is vice chair of the New Jersey Governor's Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Committee, the New Jersey Parole Advisory Committee and the Board of Directors of the American Probation and Parole Association. He holds master's degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Kean University of New Jersey. Community Programs (Juvenile)
W.G. "Bill" Bankhead
Secretary, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
Bill Bankhead has served as secretary of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice since 1999. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and retired from CSX Transportation in Jacksonville. Prior to his current position, Bankhead was a member of the Florida Senate for 10 years, during which he chaired the Fiscal Policy Committee and the Rules Committee and was a member of the Criminal Justice and Ways and Means committees, among others. He served as Senate Majority Leader and is a long-time member of the Juvenile Justice Accountability Board. Prior to election to the Senate, Bankhead served 10 years in the House of Representatives. He has been an active member of the Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators since 1999 and currently is chair of the state and federal Leadership Committee.
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 276IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 281Ralph E. Kelly
Commissioner, Department of Juvenile Justice, Kentucky
During the early 1980s, Ralph E. Kelly served as executive deputy commissioner of the New York City Department of Juvenile Justice. He joined the New York State Division of Parole in 1985, where he held a number of supervisory and administrative positions. He also served as director of an aftercare program for boot camp graduates. In 1994, Kelly became director of the New Jersey Division of Juvenile Services and in 1996, he was appointed Kentucky's first commissioner of juvenile justice. Kelly received a bachelor's degree in sociology and a master's degree in child care and child development from the University of Pittsburgh. He received his doctorate degree in education from Nova Southeastern University. Kelly currently is vice president of the Inter-Association Child Care Conference Inc., regional representative and board member of the Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators and was founding president of the National Organization of Child Care Workers Association (now the Association of Child and Youth Care Practitioners). Kelly has received numerous honors, including the Albert E. Treischman Award for outstanding leadership in child and youth care, the Outstanding Alumni Award from the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, and the Lifetime Achievement Award for Services to America's Youth from the Ohio Association of Child and Youth Care Professionals.
Education
David A. Deitch
Clinical Professor of Psychiatry University of California, San Diego
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 285David A. Deitch currently is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California-San Diego and director of the Pacific Southwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center. He has 40 years of experience in the development of drug abuse treatment systems for adolescents and adults. In the nonprofit public health sector, he was co-founder of Daytop Village Inc., and also served as senior vice president and chief clinical officer for the Phoenix House Foundation. In the academic sector, Deitch has had appointments at Temple University, the University of Chicago, University of California at San Francisco and served as chief of substance abuse services for the University of California at San Francisco. In the government sector, he has served as coordinator of curriculum and faculty for the United Nations East Central European Drug Abuse Treatment Training Project and has consulted a variety of departments of correction and ministries of justice and health in Asia, Europe and Latin America. Deitch served during the Johnson Administration as consultant to the Presidential Commission for the Study of Crime and Juvenile Delinquency and the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse. During the Carter Administration, he chaired the White House Task Force on Prevention. Since 1993, he has chaired the Curriculum Development Committee of the National Addiction Technology Transfer Centers. He further serves as regional director of the Executive Committee of the Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse - Mentor Project (2000) and serves on the Allied Health Education Committee at the University of California at San Diego's School of Medicine. Deitch holds a doctorate degree and has produced numerous publications and videos in the field and currently is the principle investigator on three federal grants.
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 291Bruce I. Wolford
Director, Training Resource Center, Eastern Kentucky University
Bruce I. Wolford began his career as a teacher and educational counselor with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. He currently is director of the Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) Training Resource Center, which provides training, research and evaluation services to local, state and federal juvenile justice and child welfare agencies. He is a professor in the College of Justice and Safety at EKU and is former president of the Correctional Education Association and former editor of the Journal of Correctional Education. Wolford has served as chair of the National Juvenile Detention Association Education Committee. He was a member of the National Steering Committee for the Council for Educators of At-Risk Youth and Delinquent Youth. Wolford has worked in the corrections and juvenile justice fields for the past 30 years and currently serves as chair of ACA's Membership Committee.
Correctional Administration (Juvenile)
Pamela H. Cline
Deputy Commissioner, Division of Juvenile Services, Indiana Department of Correction
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 295Pamela H. Cline's career in public service began in Vanderburgh County, Ind., where she was a probation assistant. Her tenure with the Indiana Department of Correction (DOC) began in 1969 as a counselor at the Indiana Girls' School, for which she eventually served as superintendent. In 1990, Cline became the first female superintendent of the Indiana Boys' School. In 1992, she became director of the Division of Juvenile Services. In 2001, she accepted the position of deputy commissioner for the Indiana DOC's, Division of Juvenile Services. Cline earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and history from the University of Evansville. She is an ACA member, a lifetime member of the Indiana Correctional Association and a member of the Council of Juvenile Administrators. Cline currently serves as president of the board of directors of the Indiana Juvenile Justice Task Force. She is a member of the Correctional Accreditation Managers Association and the Childhood Mental Health Committee of the Mental Health Association in Indiana. In addition, Cline is a member and former chair of the Indiana DOC's Women's Task Force.
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 301Steve Robinson
Executive Director, Texas Youth Commission
Steve Robinson has been executive director of the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) since 1993. He began his career in juvenile corrections at TYC in 1975 and held various positions within the agency, including hearings examiner, internal auditor, halfway house administrator and institution superintendent. For seven years, he was chief of the Travis County Juvenile Probation Department in Austin. He earned his bachelor's degree in criminology and corrections at Sam Houston State University in 1973 and a master's degree in public administration from Southwest Texas State University in 1982. Robinson is a former president of the Texas Probation Association and is active in other professional organizations, including ACA and the Council of Juvenile Corrections Administrators. He contributes his efforts to a number of community organizations such as CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates) of Travis County, where he serves on the professional advisory board. Robinson is a board member of both the Texas Incentive and Productivity Commission and the Texas Public Employees Association. He was nominated to the Council of State Government's Henry Toll Fellowship Program in 2000 and currently chairs the State Employee Charitable Campaign State Policy Committee. Robinson served as chairman of the Local Employee Committee of the Capital Area State Employee Charitable Campaign in 2000.
Probation (Juvenile)
John A. Johnson
Commissioner, New York State Office of Children and Family Services
John A. Johnson's extensive career in management and public service spans three decades. He was appointed commissioner of the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) when the agency was created in 1998. Prior to that, he served as director of the New York State Division for Youth from 1995. The numerous responsibilities Johnson oversees at OCFS include child-care and referral programs, foster care, adoption and adoption assistance, child protective services, preventive services for children and families, and protective programs for vulnerable adults. As a member of the governor's cabinet, Johnson has responsibility of an operation with an annual budget of $3.4 billion. He directs nearly 4,800 employees.
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 305IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 310Bartlett H. Stoodley Jr.
Associate Commissioner for Juvenile Services, Maine Department of Corrections
Bartlett H. Stoodley Jr. has worked for the Maine Department of Corrections since 1971, serving in various positions encompassing both juvenile and adult services. He has been a probation/ parole officer, probation/parole district supervisor and regional correctional administrator for juvenile field services. In 2000, he was appointed associate commissioner for juvenile services, overseeing institutional and community-based juvenile services. Stoodley earned a master's degree in sociology from the University of Toronto in 1971. He has experience with diverse groups, having served on many committees and councils, including the state Juvenile Justice Advisory Group.
Commission on Accreditation For Corrections
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 314Adult Probation/Parole
Melvin Brown Jr.
Executive Director, Montgomery County Department of Community Supervision and Corrections, Conroe, Texas
Melvin Brown Jr. currently is completing his first term as a member of the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections. He has served as executive director of the Montgomery County Department of Community Supervision and Corrections (MCDCSC) since its creation in October 1991. MCDCSC was created as the result of the merger of three departments. At the time of the merger, Brown had been serving as director of the Montgomery County Adult Probation Department since March 1985, the Montgomery County Juvenile Probation Department since November 1979 and the Montgomery County Pretrial Release Department since March 1990. Brown's academic background includes a doctorate and three master's degrees. His graduate study included courses in administration, criminal justice, social work, theology, psychology, counseling and education. His contributions to ACA include service on a number of committees, speaking at conferences and having several articles published in Corrections Today.
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 319Michael J. Youngken
Director, Johnson County Department of Corrections, Olathe, Kan.
Michael J. Youngken has been with the Johnson County Department of Corrections since 1988, serving as director since 1992. He has been in communitybased corrections, both public and private, for the past 30 years and holds a bachelor's degree in sociology. His qualifications for commissioner are: incumbent commissioner and panel chairman for adult probation and parole on the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections; member of the Standards Committee; former departmental accreditation manager; and auditor for ACA. Youngken administers a continuum of services in both the adult and juvenile areas, including adult residential; adult and juvenile house arrest; adult and juvenile intensive supervision; therapeutic community; juvenile detention; and juvenile case management. He also serves on many local and state boards and associations.
Citizen At Large
David M. Bogard
Managing Principal, Pulitzer/Bogard and Associates Justice Consultants, New York
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 323David M. Bogard has served on the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections for the past four years. Since 1994, he has provided consulting services to adult and juvenile correctional agencies in more than 20 states in such areas as programming, policy and procedure development, facility design, population management and staffing. His previous experience includes six years as corrections director for Arlington County, Va.; adjunct professor of law at Howard University's School of Law; labor relations attorney; special assistant to the corrections commissioner in Philadelphia; and special assistant in the Office of the Mayor in New York City. He also has served as an expert witness in several jail and prison operations cases. Bogard holds a juris doctorate degree from Temple University, a master's degree from New York University and a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York.
David Haasen-ritter
Police Chief/Commander, 10th Military Police Battalion, Fort Drum, N.Y.
Since 1982, David Haasenritter has worked as a military police officer for the U.S. Army with increasing levels of responsibility, including warden of the Local Trustee Unit, U.S. Disciplinary Barracks (USDB); operations officer, USDB; police chief, Fort Shafter, Hawaii; chief, Corrections U.S. Army Pacific Command; and chief, Corrections Department of the Army. He currently serves as police chief/commander of the 10th Military Police Battalion in Fort Drum, N.Y. Haasenritter received a master's degree in criminal justice/corrections from the University of South Carolina. He is chairman of the Military Affairs Committee and its representative to ACA's Delegate Assembly. He chairs audits for ACA and conducts audits for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
Juvenile Probation/Aftercare
Anita T. Boswell
Acting Administrator, Alabama Department of Youth Services
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 328IMAGE ILLUSTRATION 334Anita T. Boswell has worked for the Alabama Department of Youth Services since 1983 in various positions, including group home director, state regional coordinator and deputy administrator. She currently is acting administrator of the Community Services Division. Boswell's experience includes handling license and certifications for juvenile probation officers, licensing and monitoring programs and facilities for juveniles, developing and maintaining standards for community-based programs and overseeing and coordinating releases in community programs for juveniles placed in aftercare. She holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, a master's degree in criminal justice administration and a juris doctorate degree. Boswell is an ACA member and auditor.
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 339John D. Roberson
Director, Juvenile Justice Programs, Center for Human Development, Springfield, Mass.
John D. Roberson has been employed with the Center for Human Development in various supervisory and administrative positions since 1986. He was appointed director of Juvenile Justice Programs in 1998. Prior to this position, Roberson worked for the Hampden County Sheriff's Department in Ludlow, Mass., as a lead correctional counselor. He received the Hampden County Sheriff's Department's Distinguished Service Award in 1997. He has served on Springfield's Violence Prevention Task Force and the Hampden County Restorative Justice Collaborative since 1998. Roberson currently is on the board of directors of the Correctional Association of Massachusetts and the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Springfield. He attended Westfield State College and majored in criminal justice and currently is completing his master's degree in management at Cambridge College.
At Large
Lynn Branham
Visiting Professor, University of Illinois Law School
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 343For 10 years, Lynn Branham has served as a member of the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections, eight of which as the American Bar Association's representative. She developed the commission's first strategic plans, initiated new procedures, and served as an independent voice to ensure that the accreditation process met its promise and potential. In 1999, Branham received the Walter Dunbar Award for her work in improving the accreditation process. She has served on the Standards Committee and the Task Force on Youthful Offenders in Adult Correctional Facilities and currently chairs a task force to devise a qualityassurance process for the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections. She has written books and articles on correctional and sentencing law and policy, and trained federal judges on inmate litigation.
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 348Jackie Crawford
Director, Nevada Department of Corrections
Jackie Crawford has been director of the Nevada Department of Corrections for the past two years after four years as warden at the Lovelock Correctional Center and the statewide honor camp system. She held executive positions for more than 20 years as facility administrator, director of detention services in Las Vegas, executive director of the Arizona Board of Pardons and Paroles, and court administrator in Maricopa County, Ariz. Crawford is a career-long member of ACA. She was elected to the Board of Governors and the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections in the 1980s, later conducting and leading audit teams on accreditation reviews in all regions of the country. Crawford's honors include election as president of the North American Wardens and Superintendents and receiving the Volunteers of America's Maude Booth Award in 1993.
At Large (Medical Personnel)
Beth Anderson
Health Services Administrator Washington State Department of Corrections
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 352Since 1994, Beth Anderson has been administrator of health services for the Washington State Department of Corrections. She received her master's and doctorate degrees from the University of California. Her experience with performance-based standards stems from the statewide health care system, in which she previously worked. Since Washington began seeking ACA accreditation for its facilities, Anderson's office has coordinated revisions to all its health services policies to ensure compliance with ACA standards, including helping individual facilities prepare for accreditation surveys. She is a member of the American Correctional Health Services Association and currently serves on ACA's Health Care Committee.
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 358Robert K. Hofacre
Nursing Services Director, Ohio, Department of Youth Services
Robert K. Hofacre is the nursing services director for the Ohio Department of Youth Services (ODYS). Previous positions with ODYS since 1991 include a health services administrator in a maximum-security juvenile facility and a health program and planning administrator. Hofacre's prior experience includes nurse management at the Ohio State University Hospital, where he oversaw several challenging units, including the correctional health care unit that housed incarcerated adult offenders. Hofacre received his bachelor's degree in nursing from Michigan State University and a master's degree in city and regional health planning from Ohio State University. He has been an active member of ACA, serving as vice chair on the Health Care Committee and as an accreditation auditor for both adult and juvenile correctional facilities. In 2001, Hofacre received his current appointment as an ACA commissioner.
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 362Beth Holcomb
Health Care Administrator for Correctional Medical Services, Virginia Beach Correctional Center
Since 1991, Beth Holcomb has worked for Correctional Medical Services (CMS), serving six years as health services administrator and five years as director of nursing. She has worked in a multitude of health care settings during her 35-year career as a registered nurse. Holcomb serves on advisory boards of three local colleges and was twice selected CMS Administrator of the Year. Holcomb is a correctional health care provider certified by the National Commission of Correctional Health Care, a member of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care and a certified instructor for the Department of the Navy program on family alcohol education. She has 22 years of experience in correctional facilities, five of which she provided care for inmates with chronic mental illnesses.
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 366Robert D. Jones
Deputy Director, Health Services, Arizona Department of Corrections
Robert D. Jones has worked within the jail and prison environment providing medical and mental health services since 1982. In 1990, while working for the Utah Department of Corrections, he assumed the responsibilities of clinical director and helped its facilities resolve litigation and gain accreditation. In 1997, Jones moved to Montana and helped resolve litigation in federal court and provided mental health and medical direction. In 2001, he assumed his current position. He is president of the American Correctional Health Services Association (ACHSA), an affiliate of ACA, is a charter member of the Society of Correctional Physicians, and has served on ACA health care and mental health committees. Jones has received the Distinguished Service Award from ACHSA and is a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 370Tann C. Linthicum
Director, Health Services Division, Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Since 1986, Lannette C. Linthicum has worked for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in several positions, including staff physician, unit medical director, regional medical director, chief of professional services, associate medical director, interim director of preventive medicine and medical director. She received her bachelor's degree from Smith College in Northampton, Mass., and her medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. Linthicum is an advanced certified correctional health professional and a member of the Society of Correctional Physicians and the American Correctional Health Services Association. For the past two years, she has served on ACA's Program Planning Committee.
Frederick IL Maue
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 374Chief of Clinical Services, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
Frederick R. Maue has worked in correctional medicine for 20 years as a practicing physician. From 1996 to 1999, he served as chief of psychiatry with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and was promoted to chief of all medical services in 1999. Maue has chaired ACA's Mental Health Committee for the past two years and is an active member of ACA's Health Care Committee. For the past year, he has served as a commissioner for ACA's Commission on Accreditation for Corrections.
Barbara Skeen
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 378Associate Director for Medical Review, Office of General Counsel, South Carolina Department of Corrections
Since 1984, Barbara Skeen has worked for the South Carolina Department of Corrections in several positions, including institutional nurse manager, infection control nurse, regional health services director and division director of professional standards. She currently is assigned to the office of general counsel, where she supervises the health services audit process. Skeen received a bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Cincinnati. She has been an ACA auditor for the past two years and recently was promoted to audit chair. She was involved with the first field-test audits for the new outcome-based health care standards and worked closely with ACA staff in refining the audit process for the performance-based standards.
Lester N. Wright
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 382Deputy Commissioner/Chief Medical Officer, New York Department of Correctional Services
Since 1995, Lester N. Wright has been responsible for a system that provides health care for approximately 70,000 inmates. Prior to this, he directed county and state public health departments and spent seven years providing health care and developing health care services in Africa. He is a graduate of Loma Linda University School of Medicine and Harvard University School of Public Health. Wright's specialty is preventive medicine. He was a member of the Institute of Medicine Committee on the Elimination of TB in the United States and he currently chairs ACA's Health Care Committee. Wright has served on the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections since 2000 and also is a member of the Standards Committee.
At Large (Juvenile)
Parker Casselbury
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 386Accreditation Program Coordinator Tennessee Department of Children's Services
Since 1975, Parkes Casselbury has worked in adult and juvenile corrections as a correctional officer, counselor, program and facility manger, superintendent and central office director. Currently, she coordinates the statewide ACA accreditation program for the Tennessee Department of Children's Services. She has led Tennessee in the accreditation process since 1985 and has been an ACA auditor for more than 10 years. Casselbury has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Rhodes College and has completed graduate work at Vanderbilt Divinity School and in criminal justice. Involved in ACA since 1987, she has served on the Board of Governors, Delegate Assembly and many standing and ad hoc committees. Casselbury has served as president of two ACA affiliates, the Correctional Accreditation Managers Association and the National Association of Juvenile Correctional Administrators.
Virginia Swanson
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 392Regional Administrator (ret.) Community Programs, Washington State Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration Virginia Swanson currently serves on the Delegate Assembly, ACA's Resolutions and Policy, Juvenile Justice and Women in Corrections committees. She was a 2001 E.R. Cass Correctional Achievement Award recipient. Swanson previously worked as a supervisor and line parole officer and has served on the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections, the ACA Constitution and Bylaws Committee and the Board of Governors. She is a member and past president of the Western States Correctional Association and a member and past president of the Washington Correctional Association. Swanson has a bachelor's degree from Gonzaga University and a master's degree from Central Washington University.
American Institute of Architects
Kenneth M. Bensimon
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 396Principal, DMB Design Development, Olympia, Wash.
Kenneth M. Bensimon earned his bachelor's degree in architecture from Montana State University in 1977. Through his involvement in many building types and sizes, he developed a general knowledge and insight to architecture and construction technology. His justice facilities background began in 1981, with adult and juvenile program buildings and increased his contribution to jails, intensive management units, general housing, community corrections, master planning and security electronics design. Through his experience working with offenders, Bensimon has become a proponent of correctional industries. He served four years as vice chair of the Governor's Jail Industries Board for the state of Washington, and he currently serves on the Advisory Board. Bensimon was 2001 chairman of the Committee on Architecture for Justice, a national professional practice committee within the American Institute of Architects. He also has served as an independent observer for the Correctional Industries Association.
Francis J. Sheridan
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 401Director of Facilities Planning and Development, New York State Department of Correctional Services
Francis J. Sheridan is an architect and a graduate of Cooper Union and Pratt Institute in New York. He is a national award-winner of a General Electric design competition and one of ACA's "Best in the Business" selections. Sheridan was chairman of the ACA Design and Technology Committee for seven years. Currently, he is vice chairman of the ACA Design Committee. He was instrumental in getting all 70 New York state correctional facilities accredited by ACA. During the 1980s and 1990s, Sheridan managed the New York State Department of Correctional Services construction program, one of the largest such programs in the world. He has published many articles and papers on issues of interest both to corrections and architecture. Sheridan has been involved in accreditation for the past 20 years and has thorough knowledge of prison design and construction.
Association of Correctional Administrators
Gary D. Maynard
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 405Director, South Carolina Department of Corrections
Gary D. Maynard, currently serving as director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections, has more than 25 years of service in corrections. He served as warden of a medium-security institution, as well as Oklahoma State Penitentiary. Maynard also has served as director of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and Adjutant General of the Oklahoma Army and Air National Guard. He served as the Oklahoma cabinet secretary for veterans' affairs and has served on ACA's Standards Committee, for which he participated in writing the standards governing adult and juvenile boot camps. He also has been an auditor for ACA for more than 20 years and commissioner for the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections. Maynard holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from East Central University in Oklahoma and a master's degree in counseling from Oklahoma State University.
Richard L. Stalder
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 410Secretary, Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections
Richard L. Stalder began his correctional career in 1971 as a correctional officer and has served as superintendent and warden of major juvenile and adult facilities. He has bachelor's and master's degrees from Louisiana State University. Stalder was appointed secretary of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections in 1992. He was reappointed to that position in 1996. Stalder is an active member of many professional organizations, including the Association of State Correctional Administrators and ACA. In 1994, he was elected to a six-year term on the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections (CAC). In 1998, he was elected president of ACA, serving a two-year term. Additionally, Stalder participates in ACA through active membership on the Executive Committee, Board of Governors and Delegate Assembly, as a CAC auditor, and on other ad hoc committees and working groups.
Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators
Elijah Lewis
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 415Assistant Secretary, Youth Development, Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections
Elijah Lewis has worked for the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections since 1972 in various positions, including assistant secretary, juvenile warden, lieutenant colonel, major, captain, lieutenant and sergeant. For the past seven years, he has worked with Juvenile Development and Services. Lewis attended Southern University A.M. College. He currently serves as the first site coordinator for performance-based standards in Louisiana. Lewis has served in many correctional organizations, including the Louisiana Association of Wardens, ACA, the North American Association of Wardens and Superintendents, the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice and the Louisiana Association of Minority Criminal Justice Workers.
Geno Natalucci-Persichetti
Director, Ohio Department of Youth Services
Geno Natalucci-Persichetti has a 34-year career in corrections. He has served in the public and private sectors for both adult and juvenile corrections. Natalucci-Persichetti was appointed director of the Ohio Department of Youth Services in 1987 and has served in the same capacity for three governors' terms. He has been a member of ACA's Commission on Accreditation for Corrections for many years and has served as chairman since 1998. Natalucci-Persichetti also served on the Standards Committee and was chairman of the Task Force on Youthful Offenders. He is a graduate of Ohio State University and has held appointments as adjunct faculty at Ohio State University and Capital University. Natalucci-Persichetti is one of five recipients of the 1991 National Governors Association Award and winner of the 1998 Walter Dunbar Award for Excellence in Correctional Standards.
Delegate Assembly
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 420IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 424Correctional Administration (Adult)
Cherrie L. Greco
Director, Division of Training, Colorado Department of Corrections
Cherrie L. Greco has been director of the Division of Training for the Colorado Department of Corrections since 1997. She was responsible for guiding the state's training academy toward initial ACA accreditation in 1998 and subsequent reaccreditation in 2001. Five years prior to her 1997 appointment, Greco was a teacher in inmate academic programs at three Colorado institutions. She currently serves on ACA's Staff Safety Committee and has been a member of the Program Committee as well as an elected delegate, representing correctional administration, since 2000. Greco currently is president of the Colorado Criminal Justice Association and is a regional coordinator with the National Institute of Corrections. She is a member of the Association of Women Executives in Corrections and the Colorado Law Enforcement Officers' Association. Greco has a bachelor's degree in language arts and a master's degree in curriculum development.
Robert L. Johnson
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 429Commissioner, Mississippi Department of Corrections
Since 1972, Robert L. Johnson has served in the criminal justice profession, including 13 years as a police chief and the past two years as commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Johnson received a bachelor's degree from Spring Arbor College and a master's degree in public administration from Western Michigan University. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the FBI's Executive Development Course. Johnson was appointed by and served two Michigan governors for six years on the State Community Corrections Board, where he helped establish Michigan's Community Corrections Act. He also served on the Michigan Criminal Justice Advisory Council and the Mississippi Criminal Justice Reform Commission.
Correctional Administration (Juvenile)
Rodney J. Ahitow
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 433Deputy Director, Juvenile Division Illinois Department of Corrections
Rodney J. Ahitow joined the Illinois Department of Corrections in 1969 as recreation worker at the former Hanna City Boys School, where he was promoted to recreation director and then principal. He went on to hold various positions, including assistant administrator of juvenile parole, regional administrator of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, assistant warden for programs and warden of the Illinois Correctional Center. Ahitow was appointed to his current position in 2000 after serving as acting deputy director. He received a bachelor's degree in education from Western Illinois University in 1969 and a master's degree in school administration from Bradley University in 1972. He has served as president of the Illinois Correctional Association twice and the Correctional Education Association. Ahitow also is on the board of directors for the Illinois Correctional Employees Memorial Association.
Gayle L. Turner
IMAGE ILLUSTRATION 438Administrator, Department of Human Services, Youth Services Administration, Washington, D.C.
Since 1976, Gayle L. Turner has worked in the juvenile justice field in several positions, including direct care staff, first line supervisor and middle manager. In addition, she was chief of operations for Virginia's Department of Juvenile Justice and has worked in juvenile community corrections as a regional administrator. Since 1998, Turner has served as administrator for the District of Columbia's Youth Services Administration. She has served as an ACA Delegate Assembly member in the juvenile detention area, as well as an ACA auditor and serves on the Executive Committee of the Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators.
Probation (Adult)
Susan Cranford
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 442Director, Private Facilities Division, Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Susan Cranford has been in the criminal justice field for more than 25 years. She worked her way through the Texas prison system and became a senior warden in 1985. In 1994, she was promoted to assistant director of the State Jail Division, which was designed to divert lower-degree felony offenders from prison. Cranford was promoted to director of the Community Justice Assistance Division in 1996. She reorganized the division to better serve local supervision offices, strengthened commitment to drug treatment programs, established an offender tracking system and improved the division's auditing program. In 2000, she became director of the Private Facilities Division. Cranford holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas and a master's degree from Sam Houston State University. She is a past president of the Texas Corrections Association (TCA), a past officer and current member of the board of directors for the North American Association of Wardens and Superintendents, and is a member of ACA's Delegate Assembly, representing TCA. In 1997, Cranford was honored as an Outstanding Woman in Texas Government by then Gov. George W. Bush.
Claude Potts
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 448Deputy Chief Probation Officer, Detention Corrections Bureau, San Bernardino County Probation Department, California
Claude Potts entered corrections in 1966 after graduating from California State College at Long Beach with dual majors in sociology and psychology. He conducted postgraduate work in public administration at the University of Southern California. Potts has earned certifications in total quality management (California State University), program planning and evaluation, and strategic planning (University of Southern California) and grantsmanship. His work experience includes all facets of adult and juvenile services, professional standards and budget administration from line levels through administration. Potts is a member of many organizations, including the California Probation Administrators, the American Probation and Parole Association, and the California Probation, Parole and Corrections Association.
Probation (Juvenile)
Peter BonHomme
IMAGE ILLUSTRATION 452Program Manager I, Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections
Peter BonHomme has worked with Louisiana troubled youths since 1978. He worked his way through the ranks to executive director at a nonprofit residential facility before joining the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. For the past 12 years, BonHomme has worked with the Office of Youth Development in several positions, including probation officer, placement supervisor, assistant program administrator and program manager I. He received a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Active in the accreditation process in Louisiana, BonHomme also has served as an ACA auditor for several years.
Denise Cooper
IMAGE ILLUSTRATION 457Probation Supervisor, Clarke County Family and Youth Services Probation Division, Nevada
Denise Cooper has been a probation supervisor for the Clark County Family and Youth Services Probation Division since 1999, for which she provides supervision of probation officers and program development for the probation intake unit. Prior to that, she spent eight years as a supervisor at Spring Mountain Youth Camp. Cooper has 16 years of direct casework experience with youth and families, including three years as a social worker for Nevada's foster care services, 11 years as a protective services officer and two years as a parole officer with Clark County Family and Youth Services. Cooper earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Nebraska in 1969. She is a member of several professional organizations, including the Western Correctional Association and the American Parole and Probation Association. Cooper served as president and vice president of the Nevada Correctional Association and chairwoman of the Clark County Labor Management Committee.
Probation - Line Level (Adult)
Cyndi Fowler
Probation Officer, Franklin County Municipal Court Probation Department, Ohio
Cyndi Fowler began her criminal justice career in 1993 as a case manager at Traynor Halfway House in Columbus, Ohio. She became a probation officer in 1994 and was promoted to the Intensive Domestic Violence Unit in 1996, where she is still active. Fowler received bachelor's degrees in criminology and psychology in 1993 from Ohio State University. She currently is serving her second term as a board member of the Ohio Correctional and Court Services Association. Fowler also is a member of the Ohio Domestic Violence Network.
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 461IMAGE ILLUSTRATION 466Jeffry D. Martin
Adult Probation Officer Ramsey County Community Corrections Department, Minnesota
Jeffry D. Martin is an adult probation officer for the Ramsey County Community Corrections Department in St. Paul, Minn. He has worked in criminal justice-- related fields since 1990 and for Ramsey County since 1992. Martin's experience with juveniles and adults encompasses both the traditional nonprofit and government work venues. He has a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Illinois in Urbana/ Champaign and he is enrolled at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, where he is pursuing a juris doctorate degree. Martin has been involved with various committees to facilitate change and to make a more efficient and balanced system of criminal justice. He was an active member in a sentencing/peacekeeping circle initiative within Ramsey County (1998 to 2000) and with the Equal Justice Committee for the Second Judicial District (1997 to 2002), which examined racial inequalities within the courts under direction of the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Probation - Line Level (juvenile)
Danita Powell Preston
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 471Human Services Specialist 11, South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice
Danita Powell Preston has worked for the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice since 2001 as a human services specialist 11. In this position, she has been working as an auxiliary probation officer coordinator. Previously, Preston worked for four years in the child-care industry in several positions, including director, assistant director and teacher. She received a bachelor's degree in sociology with a minor in criminal justice from Lander University.
Chad Worley
IMAGE ILLUSTRATION 476Facility Manager, Travis County Juvenile Probation Department, Texas
Chad Worley has worked for the Travis County Juvenile Probation Department since 1995 as a shift supervisor, accreditation and compliance officer, and currently as a facility manager. He received a bachelor's degree from Texas Tech University and currently is completing a master's degree in public administration from Southwest Texas State University. He has been a member of ACA's Community Corrections Nonresidential Committee and also serves as an auditor.
Parole or Post-Release Supervision (Adult)
Karen Adams
Community Corrections Supervisor, Washington State Department of Corrections
Karen Adams has been employed by the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) since 1989, beginning as a community corrections officer and currently as the community corrections supervisor for the Everett field office and Everett Community Justice Center. She holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Washington. In 1998, Adams was selected by the DOC as the Northwest Region Supervisor/Manager of the Year. She has been a member of the Snohomish County Mental Health/Criminal Justice Coalition, the Snohomish County Community Team for Adults and the King County Multiagency Sex Offender Registration Task Force. Adams was selected to participate in the National Institute of Corrections' Management Development for the Future program and has served on ACA's Delegate Assembly and Mental Health Committee.
IMAGE ILLUSTRATION 480IMAGE ILLUSTRATION 486Darcy A. Wild
Parole Supervisor, Illinois Department of Corrections
Darcy A. Wild graduated from the University of Dubuque, Iowa, in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in political science and a minor in sociology with an emphasis on criminal justice. She began her employment with the Illinois Department of Corrections in 1989 as a parole agent. Since then, she has worked in several capacities within the department, including corrections counselor, parole agent and parole supervisor. In 2000, the department implemented the new Parole Initiative, which increased the effectiveness of parole and supervision. With this, Wild assisted with revising the field operations policies/procedures for parole. She also is a member of the security review team for institutions and parole.
Aftercare or Post-Release Supervision (Juvenile)
Brenda E. Welch
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 490Assistant Warden of Programs, Joliet Correctional Center, Illinois
Brenda E. Welch started with the Illinois Department of Corrections in 1979 as a correctional counselor 1. For 15 years, she served the juvenile division in the capacity of correctional parole agent 11, correctional parole agent III, and District I parole supervisor for juvenile-specific agents in Lake, Cook and Will counties. Welch served as director of social services of Dupage County Jail before becoming a statewide administrator for juvenile justice with the Department of Human Resources in 1999. She was appointed to her current position of assistant warden of programs at Joliet Correctional Center in August 2001. Welch earned a bachelor's degree in justice administration and psychology from Southern Illinois University and a master's degree in corrections and criminal justice from Chicago State University. She has been active in the Illinois Correctional Association for many years.
Carol Rapp Zimmermann
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 495Assistant Director, Department of Youth Services, Ohio
Carol Rapp Zimmermann has been a member of the Ohio Department of Youth Services (ODYS) team since 1987 and was appointed assistant director in 1992. In this capacity, she oversees the deputy directors responsible for the operation of nine institutions, three residential treatment centers, seven regional offices, one privately contracted correctional facility and various programs, grants and subsidies to the courts. Zimmermann is the architect of RECLAIM (Reasoned and Equitable Community and Local Alternatives to the Incarceration of Minors) Ohio, which restructured ODYS from a traditional state agency to a market-driven for-profit company. This unique program was honored by the Ford Foundation and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University as one of the 25 most innovative programs in American government in 1996. Zimmerman also was recently recognized for her leadership in creating the S.T.A.R. Team, a labor management group that maintains strategic direction of ODYS. A National Merit Scholar, Zimmermann is a frequent lecturer and published author. She recently received a master's degree in public administration from Ohio State University.
Parole or Post-Release Supervision -- Line Level (Adult)
Sarah Dewalt
IMAGE ILLUSTRATION 499Apprehension Specialist, Illinois Department of Corrections
Sarah Dewalt has served the Illinois Department of Corrections for the past 21 years in a variety of capacities, including clerk typist, office assistant and correctional parole agent. Currently, she serves the department as an apprehension specialist. A Tennessee native who relocated to Chicago in 1987, Dewalt also is a member of the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice.
Nancy DiBenedetto
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 504Correctional Field Supervisor, Division of Community Corrections, Wisconsin Department of Corrections
Nancy DiBenedetto has been working in corrections for the past 15 years. She began her career as a correctional officer, became a sergeant, lieutenant, and then a social worker in the Wisconsin prison system. DiBenedetto entered the probation and parole field in 1988 as a probation and parole agent, and in 1992, became a field supervisor in Madison. DiBenedetto holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's degree in counseling. She is an active member of several ACA committees and the Delegate Assembly. DiBenedetto currently is president of the Wisconsin Correctional Association and on a national level, was one of the first members to benefit from ACA's scholarship program. She recently spoke at an ACA workshop involving neighborhood supervision - the Madison Model.
Aftercare or Post-Release Supervision -- Line Level (Juvenile)
Melba B. Oubre
IMAGE ILLUSTRATION 508Juvenile Probation and Parole Program Specialist, Division of Youth Services, Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections
Melba B. Oubre has been employed by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections since 1991. She has been in her current position for nearly two years. Prior to that, Oubre was a juvenile probation and parole officer in field services for nine years. In 1999, she was elected Probation and Parole Officer of the Quarter and in 2000, she was elected Probation and Parole Officer of the Year for 1999. Oubre received a bachelor's degree in business management in 1979 from Southern University in Baton Rouge, La.
Mollie DuPriest Taylor
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 513Director, South Carolina Board of Juvenile Parole
Mollie DuPriest Taylor graduated cum laude from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor's degree in education. She taught in the Lexington District If public school system for seven years before returning to the University of South Carolina School of Law, where she received her juris doctorate degree in 1986. While in law school, she served as a managing editor of the Journal of Law and Education. Taylor has practiced both corporate and private law, with a particular interest in family law. She also served as a municipal court judge for the city of West Columbia. She was appointed by the governor in 1991 to the Juvenile Parole Board prior to becoming director in 1995. The Juvenile Parole Board accomplished the goal of ACA accreditation in 1995 and reaccreditation in 1999 and 2001. Taylor is a member in good standing of the South Carolina Bar and serves on the Children's Committee. She is a member of the South Carolina Correctional Association and served on the ACA Delegate Assembly from 1998 to 2000. Taylor is on the board of directors for the South Carolina Probation and Parole Association and a member of the American Probation and Parole Association. She serves on the Governor's Youth Council in the 11th Judicial Circuit and is chairwoman of the board of directors for the Lexington County Children's Center.
Crime Victim Organization
Trudy M. Gregorie
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 518National Criminal Justice and Crime Victim Issues Consultant, Justice Solutions, Virginia
Trudy M. Gregorie has 23 years of experience in the crime victim services and criminal justice fields, For more than a decade, she was director of a prosecutor-based program providing comprehensive victim services in Charleston, S.C. She served on the initial South Carolina task force that developed statewide policies, procedures and standards for victim services. Gregorie was a founding member and officer of the South Carolina Victim Assistance Network. In 1992, she joined the governor's office and developed the State Crime Victim Ombudsman Program. In 1994, Gregorie joined the senior staff of the National Center for Victims of Crime and served for seven years as both director of victim services and of training. Currently, she is a principal with Justice Solutions, a national nonprofit organization based in Northern Virginia. For seven years, she served as director of the Promising Practices and Strategies for Victim Services in Corrections project, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime. She serves on the faculty of the National Victim Assistance Academy and the National Sheriffs' TRIAD Academy. She is a founding member of the board of directors for the National Association of Triads International and recently was elected to the board of directors of the National Center for the Prevention of Elder Abuse. Since 1996, Gregorie has served on the editorial board of the Sexual Assault Report. In 1999, she was awarded the National Crime Victim Services Award by the U.S. attorney general. Currently, she serves as co-chair of the ACA Victims Committee and is a member of the American Probation and Parole Association's Victims Issues Committee.
Sherry Price
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 523President, Crime Victims Unite New York
Sherry Price has worked with victims since 1986, when she became a victim of violent crime. She has established and worked within many victims rights groups to promote change, and worked to increase resources and societal acknowledgment of the effects of violent crime and the needs of crime victims. Her work as director of the National Center for Victims of Crime and president and chief executive officer of Crime Victims United Inc. led her to recognize the need for victim involvement in corrections. Since 1990, she has worked with the New York City Department of Correction to develop services for crime victims, acted as liaison to the victim community and introduced the Victim Awareness Program to inmates. Price served on the Victims Committee of ACA, and is co-chair of several coalitions in New York.
At-Large Ethnic Minority (3 positions)
Ana T. Aguirre
IMAGE ILLUSTRATION 527Senior Trainer, Texas Juvenile Probation Commission
Before becoming senior trainer for the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission, Ana T. Aguirre worked as a management auditor, assistant chief juvenile probation officer and foster home program coordinator. Aguirre has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and currently is pursuing her master's degree in criminal justice management at Sam Houston State University. She is an auditor for ACA and has served on ACA's Delegate Assembly for the past two terms. Aguirre is a member of ACA's Juvenile Justice, Victims and Affirmative Action committees. Aguirre also serves on the National Institute of Corrections Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Training Committee. She currently serves on the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Sex Offender Risk Assessment Review Committee, the TDCJ Sex Offender Management Program Team and she previously served on the Texas Council on Sex Offender Treatment. Aguirre also is a member of the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice and the Correctional Accreditation Managers Association.
Raul S. Banasco
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 532Assistant Warden, Programs, Tomok Correctional Institution, Florida
Raul S. Banasco has been in the juvenile and adult corrections fields for approximately 16 years. Since 1988, he has worked for the Florida Department of Corrections in several positions, including correctional officer, correctional probation officer and supervisor, assistant superintendent and assistant warden. He received a bachelor's degree in psychology from Iona College and an executive certificate in public management and a master's degree in public administration from Florida Atlantic University. Banasco has been a member of ACA for several years.
Salvador A. Godinez
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 536Deputy Chief Probation Officer, Cook County Juvenile Court, Illinois Salvador A. Godinez began his correctional career as a liaison counselor in a family reintegration project with the Illinois Department of Corrections (DOC) Juvenile Division in 1973. Since then, he has served in a variety of positions. including parole agent, assessment coordinator, assistant warden of programs, assistant warden of operations and warden. In 1995, Godinez was appointed deputy director of administration and programs for the Michigan DOC. Two years later, he joined Wackenhut Corrections Corp. as a facility administrator with assignments in Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico. In 1998, Godinez returned to Illinois to become administrator of juvenile field services. The following year, he rejoined Wackenhut as a director of juvenile offender projects and other operations assignments. In 2001, he again returned to Illinois and was appointed deputy chief probation officer for the Cook County Juvenile Court. Godinez earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of Illinois in 1973 and a master's degree in corrections from Chicago State University in 1978. He has been an instructor at various colleges and currently is an auditor for ACA and a trainer on prison gangs for various criminal justice organizations.
Carlyle I. Holder
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 540Warden, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Correctional Complex-- Medium-Security Facility, Florida
During his 22-year career with the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Carlyle 1. Holder has held a number of leadership and line posts in several bureau facilities, including warden, associate warden, executive assistant, affirmative action administrator, EEO investigator, administrative systems manager/paralegal specialist, legal technician and correctional officer. Prior to his BOP career, Holder served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He received an associate's degree in criminal justice from Allan Hancock College in California and has completed four years of college. He has been a member of ACA for more than 10 years and has served on the ACA Affirmative Action Committee for the past four. Holder currently is director of association development for the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice (NABCJ) and past national vice chairman. He is a founding member of both the Greater New York and Florida Midcities Chapters of NABCJ. Holder is a former member of the Executive Board of Directors for the National United Law Enforcement Officers Association Inc. and currently is a member of Blacks in Government and NAACP. In 2000, he was appointed to the Senior Executive Service, the highest level one can attain through federal civil service. Holder has received numerous awards, including two citations from the president of the Borough of Brooklyn (New York), a proclamation from the New York City Council, the 1999 Staff Development Award for Wardens, the U.S. Department of Justice Public Service Award in 1998 from the U.S. Attorney's Office-Eastern District of New York, the Owens Bell Award in 1997 from NABCJ, the U.S. Attorney General's Award for Equal Employment Opportunity in 1995, BOP's Top EEO/Affirmative Action Award for Associate Wardens in 1993, as well as the Outstanding Presidents Award in 1993 from NABCJ.
William Lopez
IMAGE ILLUSTRATION 544Senior Counselor, New York State Department of Correctional Services
William Lopez began working for the New York State Department of Correctional Services in 1982 as a correctional officer. He was promoted to a counselor in the Hispanic Inmate Needs Program, in which he worked until he was promoted to a newly formed program in health services of the Regional Medical Unit at Coxsackie. Lopez, currently is working at the Clinton Correctional Facility as a supervisor and senior counselor. He also is a trainer and a member of the Crisis Intervention Unit. Lopez received a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern Illinois in 1982.
Lloyd B. McMillan
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 548Executive Assistant to the Director Federal Bureau of Prisons Washington, D.C.
Lloyd B. McMillan has worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for the past 27 years. He began his career as a summer intern and has held several positions, including case manager, training center instructor, camp administrator, assistant superintendent and site selection specialist. Since 1995, McMillan has served as executive assistant to the director. Prior to his employment with BOP, McMillan worked with troubled youths as a counselor with the Summit County Juvenile Court in Akron, Ohio. For more than 10 years, he has actively supported ACA and currently is a member of the Affirmative Action and Public Information committees. A lifetime member of the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice (NABCJ), he received its Owens Bell Award in 1998. McMillan currently serves as president of the District of Columbia chapter of NABCJ. In addition, he holds a bachelor's degree in sociology.
Correctional Education Services (Adult) (2 positions)
Harold D. Jenkins
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 552Education Liaison, Maryland Division of Correction
Since 1973, Harold D. Jenkins has worked for the Maryland Division of Correction's educational services for inmates. Since 1979, he has served as the agency's liaison for education programs provided by the correctional education unit of the Maryland State Department of Education, as well as community providers such as community colleges and the Board of Education. Jenkins earned a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in political science from Florida State University. He earned a doctorate degree in political science from the University of Maryland and a certificate of advanced study in education from Johns Hopkins University. In 2001, he was certified as a correctional manager by ACA. Jenkins is an active member of the Correctional Education Association and the European Prison Education Association. He served a two-year term on ACA's Delegate Assembly.
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 557Marilyn "Lynn" McAuley
Hawaii Correctional Industries Division Administrator, Department of Public Safety
Since 1980, Lynn McAuley has worked in the correctional systems of two states, including 12 years as assistant director and director of the Correctional Industries Division of the Washington State Department of Corrections and as administrator of the Division of Correctional Industries for the Hawaii Department of Public Safety. McAuley, the 1996 recipient of the prestigious Correctional Industries Association (CIA) Rodli Award, received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She previously served as the appointed Delegate Assembly representative to ACA for CIA. McAuley was elected twice to the Delegate Assembly for correctional education services and served on ACA's Ethics, Correctional Education, Membership and Correctional Industries committees. She is on the board of directors for CIA, the Jail Industries Association and the Hawaii Organization of Women Leaders. McAuley is a member of American Institutional Agribusiness, a founding member of the National Community Service Sentencing Association and is on the board of directors of the newly formed ACA dual chapter of the Hawaii Criminal Justice Association.
Walter A. McFarlane
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 561Superintendent, Virginia Department of Correctional Education
Walter A. McFarlane became superintendent of the Virginia Department of Correctional Education in 1994. Prior to that, he served as director of policy and chief legal counsel to former Gov. Douglas Wilder, after serving as deputy attorney general of Virginia. In 2001, ACA named McFarlane one of corrections' "Best in the Business," citing Virginia's improvements in correctional education during his term. He has published a number of scholarly works ranging from the clemency process to the prosecution of fraud and abuse in government. He has received a number of national awards in the law field and is on the adjunct faculty at the University of Richmond, where he teaches litigation and legal writing.
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 565Robert W. Olding
Assistant Director, Arizona Department of Corrections
Robert W. Olding has worked for more than 20 years in corrections, classification, education, human services delivery and administration. He earned a bachelor's degree with majors in psychology and sociology from Western Michigan University, a master's degree in counseling psychology from the University of Notre Dame, and a doctorate degree in psychology from Arizona State University. In addition to his primary positions, Olding holds an adjunct professorship with Western International University in Phoenix and teaches graduate and undergraduate classes within the departments of Behavioral Science and Criminal Justice. He is a two-time recipient of the Meritorious Service Award from the Arizona Department of Corrections, a 1994 recipient of the Arizona Governor's Recognition Award for Excellence in State Service and a team member recipient again in 1997. In 1999, Olding was one of 16 finalists for the Arizona state government's Administrator of the Year award by the Arizona Administrators Association.
Correctional Education Services (Juvenile) (2 positions)
Deborah D. Fite
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 569Deputy Director/Superintendent of Education, South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice
Since 1999, Deborah D. Fite has served as superintendent of education at the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). She came to DJJ after 25 years of educational experience in regular school districts, having served as an assistant superintendent for instruction, director of a dropout prevention project, director of instruction, director of instructional technology, alternative school principal, middle school principal, assistant principal for discipline and high school teacher. Fite also has been an adjunct instructor at the University of South Carolina, where she received her bachelor's degree, a master's degree in education and a doctorate degree.
Dennis Sherman
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 574Education Director, New York State Office of Children and Family Services
Dennis Sherman has worked in correctional facilities and school educational programs for offenders since 1968. He has been a teacher, education director, hostage negotiator, director of New York's crisis intervention unit and acting deputy superintendent for program services. Sherman currently is education director in a large, upstate residential center for juveniles. He received a bachelor's degree in sociology and secondary education from Stoney Brook University and a master's degree in supervision and education administration from Western Connecticut State University. In 1983, he received a commendation letter from then Gov. Mario Cuomo for his role in the Sing Sing riot. From 1983 to 1998, Sherman conducted training workshops for ACA in hostage negotiation and disturbance management. He is the author of Preventing Riots and Disturbances, published by ACA. He also is a member and past officer of New York State's Correctional Education Association. He served on ACA's Emergency Preparedness Committee and currently serves on its Education Committee. Sherman has completed training in the Office of Children and Family Services Management Development Program.
John C. Stewart
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 578Superintendent of Education, Alabama Department of Youth Services
John C. Stewart has been superintendent for the Alabama Department of Youth Services Special School District since 1983. He holds teacher certification in administration, special education, political science and history. In 1987. he received his doctorate degree in education from Auburn University and his undergraduate and master's degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University. Before becoming superintendent, Stewart was special education coordinator for the Ozark City School System. Before moving to Ozark, Ala., he was an instructor for learning-disabled students at the Grace Arents Learning Disability Center in Richmond, Va. Stewart has served on education accreditation teams in Alabama, Pennsylvania and Virginia. In addition, he serves as chairman for the Alabama Special Education Advisory Committee.
Jane D. Young
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 582Chief of Education and Superintendent of Schools, North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Jane D. Young was director of education for the North Carolina Division of Prisons from 1996 until accepting her current position in 2000. She received her master's degree in special education and her doctorate degree in educational administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Young has more than 10 years of experience teaching adolescents with learning and cognitive and behavioral disabilities, and has conducted research regarding policies for children with special needs. In summer 2000, Young was named by Corrections Today as "Best in the Business" for her work in correctional education. Her special interests are accountability and quality assurance for juvenile justice education programs and improving transition services for youths re-entering the community from juvenile justice facilities.
Detention (Adult) (2 positions)
Beth Arthur
Sheriff, Arlington County Sheriff's Office, Virginia
Beth Arthur was appointed and elected sheriff of Arlington County, Va., in 2000. She earned a bachelor's degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1983. She has had extensive training from the National Institute of Corrections, including public and media relations, human resource management and recruiting. She is a member of the American Jail Association, the National Sheriffs' Association and the Virginia Sheriffs' Association.
George F. Wagner
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 586IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 591Warden, Hunterdon County Department of Corrections, New Jersey
George F. Wagner serves as warden of the Hunterdon County Department of Corrections, which is accredited by ACA. He has been an employee of the department since 1980 and has ascended the rank structure. During that time, Wagner held various positions including training officer. As an active member of the corrections profession, he has served on various boards and committees, including chairing the County Training Advisory Committee. Wagner is an accreditation auditor for ACA. He received a bachelor's degree with honors in law and science from Trenton State College and a master's degree with honors in public administration from Rutgers University. Wagner also is a member of the Pi Alpha Alpha National Honor Society.
Maj. Elaine White
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 595Commander, Orient Road Jail, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Tampa, Fla.
Elaine White has been with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office for nearly 20 years. She started as a detention deputy in 1982, was promoted to corporal in 1984 and then to sergeant in 1986. Three years later, she was promoted to lieutenant, and in 1994, she was made captain. White became a major in 1996. She is a graduate of Florida State University, where she earned a bachelor's degree. She is a member of the Florida State University Alumni, the Florida Sheriffs Association, Leadership Tampa, the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay Inc. and the National Speakers Association.
Marvin J. Wilson
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 599Assistant Chief Deputy, Polk County Sheriff's Office, Des Moines, Iowa
Since 1972, Marvin J. Wilson has worked for the Polk County Sheriff's Office in several positions, including correctional officer, policy and procedure manager, accreditation manager, operations and security manager, assistant jail division chief and chief. He is third in command at the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Wilson has held the civil service rank of sergeant and lieutenant and was promoted to jail administrator in 1989. He became director of detention and support services for the sheriff's office in 2001. He has extensive training in law enforcement and corrections from the National Academy of Corrections and the National Sheriffs Institute. Wilson also is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va. In 1992, he led the sheriff's office to successful completion of ACA accreditation. He is a member of the National Sheriffs' Association and ACA's Adult Local Detention Committee, and is an accreditation auditor.
Detention (Juvenile) (2 positions)
Bonita Copridge
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 603Deputy Juvenile Officer, Clay County Family Court, Missouri
Bonita Copridge has more than 17 years of experience in the juvenile justice system. In addition to being a deputy juvenile officer, she holds a part-time position as a substitute teacher/homebound instructor for the Independence School District in Missouri. She has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Central Missouri State University and is pursuing a master's degree in justice administration. As an interim project director, Copridge was directly involved in developing and implementing a delinquency and youth violence prevention program to help reduce risk factors associated with juvenile delinquency. She is actively involved with the Clay County Child Fatality Review Team and is a member of the Missouri Juvenile Justice Association, as well as the Women and Child Health Coalition. Copridge also is actively involved in several community-based organizations.
Gary Greene
IMAGE ILLUSTRATION 609Superintendent, Atascosa County Juvenile Justice Center, Texas
Gary Greene has been a detention administrator since 1996. Prior to that, he was a case manager and is still a licensed chemical dependency counselor. He spent 23 years in the U.S. Air Force and retired as a chief master sergeant. Greene has a bachelor's degree in social psychology from Park College and one year of graduate study in social work. He recently was named Detention Administrator of the Year by the Texas Juvenile Detention Association and has been very active in that organization.
Cyndi B. Thompson
IMAGE ILLUSTRATION 613Director, Baldwin County Regional Juvenile Detention Center, Alabama
Cyndi B. Thompson graduated from the University of Athens with a bachelor's degree in psychology. She worked in an adolescent psychiatric unit for two years before joining the Baldwin County Regional Juvenile Detention Center in 1992 as a detention worker supervisor. Thompson was appointed director of the center in 1996. In 2000, she was elected president of the Alabama Juvenile Detention Administrators Association and is serving her second term. Thompson is working with her county commission to develop a regional rehabilitation wilderness program for girls. She has been a member of ACA and the National Juvenile Detention Association since 1997. Thompson was appointed to a children's policy counsel by her juvenile court judge. She also serves on the Alabama Office of Courts Juvenile Automation Committee, for which she has been helping develop a statewide juvenile software program.
Daniel L. Williamson
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 617Assistant Superintendent, Tulsa County Juvenile Detention Home, Tulsa, Okla.
Daniel L. Williamson first became involved with law enforcement and corrections as a U.S. Marine in 1981. He has specialized training and experience as a military police officer, K-9 officer, kennel master, trainer, CID agent, adult prison administrator, adult detention officer, pretrial release officer, juvenile intake counselor and juvenile detention accreditation manager. Williamson holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Northeastern State University and is in the process of completing a master's degree in public administration with the University of Oklahoma. He also is a member of the American Society for Public Administration, the National Juvenile Detention Association and the Correctional Accreditation Managers Association.
Institutions (Adult) (2 positions)
Mary V. Leftridge Byrd
Superintendent, State Correctional Institution at Chester, Chester, Pa.
Mary V. Leftridge Byrd has been superintendent of the State Correctional Institution at Chester since 1998. She has more than 20 years of experience in correctional management and administration. She offers particular expertise in constituency development, managing female offenders, correctional leadership development, collaborative relationships, and staff recruitment, retention and training. Byrd has practiced her profession in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. She has a bachelor's degree from Pennsylvania State University and has completed graduate courses at the University of Maryland. Byrd was honored by the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice during the 2001 Scholarship Awards Banquet. She has been recognized by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives and was named to Pennsylvania's Honor Roll of Women. Byrd also is a recipient of the Edna Mahan Award for excellence in her profession and was appointed by former Gov. Tom Ridge to serve on the Pennsylvania Commission for Women.
Kermit Kerley
IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 621IMAGE PHOTOGRAPH 626Regional Assistant Warden, Florida Department of Corrections
From 1976 to 1984, Kermit Kerley worked for the Illinois Department of Corrections (DOC) in the positions of executive II and assistant warden. Since 1984, he has worked for the Florida DOC in several positions, including assistant warden for programs, warden, service center director and regional assistant warden. He received a bachelor's degree in economics/business from Illinois College and a master's degree in public administration from the University of South Florida