Going FAR with New Ideas Know your part as a reentry

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2014
DETAILS:
HALL PASS
10
tips to keep your
hallways free from
safety hazards
Going FAR
with New Ideas
Finding opportunities through
continuous evaluation
TACKLING
RECIDIVISM
Know your part as a reentry professional
OUR PEOPLE  OUR COMMUNITY  OUR COMPANY
WWW.INSIDECCA.COM
insidecca.com
1
In this Issue
Features
Columns
4 I Am CCA:
Imagining a New World
3 The President’s Desk
Wave Walton, a correctional officer at Eloy,
shares his passion for writing and corrections.
7 PREA Final Rule: Respond
Hardeman County staff members talk about
how they work to respond to PREA incidents
at their facility.
12 Inspiring From the Inside, Out
Danny Cosby Sr. and Jr. find inspiration in
helping others set their lives straight.
15 How FAR Will CCA Go?
Functional Area Review finds opportunities
to enhance CCA operations.
16 Writing Songs, Experiencing
Fellowship Through Music
CCA Metro-Davidson County Detention
Facility inmates’ witness their writings
translated into song.
Elizabeth employees find PRIDE in their work
in New Jersey.
10 Service Awards
Ethel Jones will hit 30 years with CCA in October.
20 Applause
Bent County and South Central achieve high
ACA audit scores.
21 Details
Hallway Navigation: 10 simple ways to keep
safe when making your way in and around
your facility.
22 New Faces, New Places
23 Live Healthy. LiveCCA.
The LiveCCA initiative can help employees avoid
a wellness surcharge and introduce them to new
ideas for living a healthier lifestyle.
From the Editor
was thinking the other day about the movie Pay it Forward. You might know
it – it’s about a kid who sets out to have people pay forward a good deed by
doing a good deed for three other people. And I wondered to myself, how do
you define a deed as good?
The most valuable good deed, I believe, is one that is done without any expectation that you will get something in return from the individual you did it for. You do it
for the sake of doing it, because it’s right. Sometimes it’s not the easiest thing to do. And this might
be particularly true in a challenging or stressful environment. But the reentry work you conduct,
whether you are spending time counseling a distressed inmate or simply doing your best to remain
professional at all times, is at the core of what it means to do good things for others.
As you go about your daily work routine in your facility, I hope you find time to do a good deed
for a co-worker or inmate, or even for a family member who has come to visit their loved one in
prison. Even if it’s just an encouraging word when they need it most, I hope you see the valuable
opportunity you have to make a difference in your facility and, ultimately, in your life.
So I ask you: How will you pay it forward today?
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CCA.com/InsideCCA
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6 Facility Focus
18 Volunteering at CCA
James C. Dillard
Communications Director
InsideCCA Editor
DETAILS:
HALL PASS
tips to keep your
hallways free from
safety hazards
8 Field Photos
Volunteers at CCA find creative ways to give
hope to inmates. Here are three of their stories.
I
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2014
Going FAR
with New Ideas
Finding opportunities through
continuous evaluation
TACKLING
RECIDIVISM
Know your part as a reentry professional
OUR PEOPLE  OUR COMMUNITY  OUR COMPANY
WWW.INSIDECCA.COM
On the Cover
Regina Beede, CCA Eloy Detention Center
chaplain, speaks to a group of inmates at
CCA Saguaro Correctional Center.
Contributors
Dee Ann Adams
John Diffenderfer
James C. Dillard
Louise Grant
Charlotte Higgins
Elijah Light
DeAndra Mack
Christina Vinson
Lindsay Williams
Contact Us
We welcome reader feedback and inquiries.
Write to InsideCCA: [email protected]
InsideCCA
is published six times a year by
Corrections Corporation of America (CCA)
for employees and friends of the company.
Copyright 2014, Corrections Corporation
of America. Unauthorized duplication is
prohibited.
The President’s Desk
“Reentry must and will be a day-one
priority at all of our facilities.”
CCA Friends and Family,
These are exciting times for our company. And I don’t
have to tell you how important our mission is. You live it
every day. The service we provide to our communities
and to our country is a vital one. You should justifiably
feel proud to be a part of it.
As you may have heard during the third quarter Town
Hall, I spent some time discussing a culture shift in our
company and I talked about how we need to set measurable and ambitious goals to show our government partners we are here to stay. We’re here to set the standard in
partnership corrections. It’s that simple.
We’ve long discussed how it’s important that we recognize that 95 percent of inmates will one day return to
society. They’ll be our neighbors. They’ll be amongst us as
members of our communities. So, what can we do to help
ensure they are productive citizens and that they don’t
experience recidivism? What’s our part as corrections
professionals in the reentry process? What’s your part?
In our society, I have seen and sensed that there
is a renewed focus on investing in reentry programs.
People, perhaps more than ever, are seeing that if we
can invest in the inmates while they are incarcerated, the
Above: CCA Inmate Programs staff join Damon
Hininger for a picture at the Facility Support Center.
Pictured (from left) are Michelle Cotter, Damon,
Michelle Ryder, Tim O’Dell and Don Stewart.
investment will pay off for everyone in the long term.
Our government partners are among those who are
tired of seeing offenders return to prison time after time.
We have to interrupt this cycle of recidivism.
We do that by offering GED programs, life skills and
vocational courses and faith-based programs. These
efforts have long been staples of our reentry programming. I said earlier that we will be experiencing a culture
shift, but for many of you, you were involved in supporting this culture already. Reentry must and will be a
day-one priority at all of our facilities. Even if you are not
directly involved in the reentry programs we offer, you
are supporting the reentry culture by exhibiting professionalism and respect in all that you do.
But, that does not mean that our priority will shift
away from operating safe and secure facilities. We owe
it to ourselves, our government partners, our communities and the inmates in our care to ensure our facilities
are a safe place to work and live.
CCA has a lot of work to do in the coming months and
years to do our part in tackling recidivism. But, I know we
can handle it. We are reentry professionals. We are CCA.
Damon T. Hininger
CCA President and CEO
CCA.com/InsideCCA
3
I Am CCA
Meet
WAVE WALTON
A passion for writing
and introducing children
to a whole new world
By Lindsay Williams
Top: Correctional Officer
Wave Walton has been writing
stories since he was very young.
His daughter encouraged
him to write professionally.
Now, he has several
children’s books published.
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CCA.com/InsideCCA
W
ave Walton lived through a variety
of experiences prior to joining CCA
five years ago. He did a tour of duty
in Iraq—an experience that changed his life
forever—and raised a daughter as a single dad.
As a correctional officer at CCA Eloy Detention Center in Arizona, Walton sees his work as
a way to create a meaningful life in the midst of
the mundane. “There are days when I feel like,
while in the course of doing my duty, I am helping someone,” Walton said. CCA provides a way
for him to not only assist others but to also be
able to pursue his current passion—writing.
Charles DeRosa, Eloy warden, has seen firsthand Walton’s passion at work.
“Wave is a first-rate employee who is a pleasure to work with,” DeRosa said. “His dedication to
The CCA Way is evident in his attention to detail,
how he deals with the detainee population, and
his positive interactions with the staff here at Eloy.
Wave has brought many inspiring ideas to the
Eloy operation, including taking the lead in bringing staff concerns and ideas to the facility leadership team in a positive and constructive manner.”
Since he was a child, Walton has always
been creative, exploring artistic pursuits like
photography, drawing and painting. He developed a love for reading in high school and
devoured countless fantasy and sci-fi novels. He
eventually wrote some stories of his own.
However, it was his daughter, Charlotte, who
actually gave him the idea of writing professionally as an adult. When she was growing up, he
regaled and entertained her with bedtime stories, many of which he made up. While he was
in Iraq, serving in the Army, he thought of his
daughter and this bedtime ritual often. When he
returned home, he knew he needed an outlet to
communicate the lessons he’d learned and the
feelings he’d experienced overseas.
“I developed a need to communicate to
someone in a more meaningful way after all
the places I’d been, things I’d seen, and things
I’d done,” he said. “I found that among the chaos
of the world, one of the continuums that I
observed was children experiencing the world
with open and honest eyes.”
The tragedy he saw first-hand in Iraq also
weighed heavy on his heart and mind. “I had
seen so much in the way of children suffering
that I really just wanted to feel like I’d made a
few happy,” he explained.
“I am still a child at heart and always
will be, looking at the world and
believing in a sense of magic.”
WAVE WALTON
Having no prior knowledge of the publishing
industry, Walton blindly self-published his first
three children’s books via a self-publishing service. However, he quickly realized he could save
time and money by crafting these books from
start to finish on his own. He began to study all
the steps involved in the process and taught
himself how to publish a high-quality product.
Today he’s authored eight children’s books,
including his trademark title, The Wuffle, which
Walton describes as a self-portrait. The Wuffle
has also been translated into Chinese.
“I found it very rewarding when I ran into a
child who had identified with a character and
fallen in love with one of my books,” Walton said.
“To me, this was priceless.”
In addition to being entertaining, his stories
often have underlying lessons centering on topics like the desire to belong, how to have a positive
impact on the world and ways to reach goals.
“How we communicate, how we speak, how
we express, how we share all relays an image
to another person,” Walton explained. “I intend
to leave the reader with a vivid experience and
replace their world for a moment with the one
I create.”
He’s passed down his love of writing to his
daughter, as well. Charlotte began working on
her first novel at the age of 14. Now, at 18, she is
currently enrolled at North Georgia Military College as a cadet and plans to become an officer
in the military.
While his daughter no longer lives at home
and he’s spending his free time writing young
adult novels instead of books for kids these
days, Walton admits to never wanting to lose
his sense of wonderment.
“I am still a child at heart and always will be,
looking at the world and believing in a sense of
magic. I think we all have a spark in us that is
that of a child,” he said.
He contends whatever one’s passion may be,
stories are all around us, waiting to be told. We
only have to look for them. “Inspiration comes
from everywhere. It comes from the good, the
bad, and all the people around us,” he said. n
Above: Wave Walton, right, and Correctional
Officer Charles Clark, go over some paperwork
at CCA Eloy Detention Center. Eloy Warden
Charles DeRosa described Walton as someone
who is known for his attention to detail.
Bottom Left: The “Wuffle,” one of Wave Walton’s trademark characters, is depicted here
visiting with some woodland friends.
Bottom Right: These are examples of books
Wave Walton has written and published. His
books are available for purchase online.
CCA.com/InsideCCA
5
Facility Focus
Elizabeth Detention Center
Elizabeth, New Jersey
By James C. Dillard
CCA
Elizabeth Detention Center,
located in the heart of Elizabeth,
NJ, has proudly served the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement since 1997.
The city of Elizabeth, with a population of
more than 120,000, ranks as New Jersey’s fourth
largest city by population. The city is celebrating
their 350th anniversary this year, and originally
served as the capital of the state. They also have
claimed the distinctions of being the first to offer
ice cream soda, build submarines and operate
the first automobile assembly line in New Jersey.
Elizabeth Detention Center boasts a
126-employee team who oversee the safety and
security of nine detainee dormitories. The original building was a two-story cement masonry
warehouse which was converted in the early
1990’s into a one-story correctional facility, operated by another corrections agency. Following
an incident in 1995, the building closed until
1996. In November of 1996, after renovating
and repairing the facility, CCA re-opened it. The
building consists of two primary sections — the
West and East halves.
The staff at Elizabeth often take their passion
for community involvement directly into the
community. In 2014, they’ve participated in the
Rotary Club’s 40th Annual Pancake Breakfast,
the Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce
Dinner Cruise, the Rotary Club Fireman of the
Year Award, an Elizabeth community relations
BBQ and the Rotary Club’s 8th Annual Taste of
Elizabeth event.
Like so many CCA facilities, they look for productive ways to keep the people in their care
engaged. For instance, they offer their detainees
access to English as a Second Language (ESL), a
computer-based education program. n
Top Right: Detention Officer Ladina KnightSmith, facility wellness champion, Detention
Officer Robin Gibbs and Emma Collins
participate in a hula hoop contest at Elizabeth.
Right: Detention Officer Nazario B. Solomon
(left) was presented a certificate for being the
winner of a weight loss contest at Elizabeth by
Detention Officer Ladina Knight-Smith. KnightSmith is the facility wellness champion.
Editor’s note: Special thanks to Angela Vereen, the
warden’s secretary at Elizabeth, for her assistance in
gathering the information and photos for this article.
Detention Officer Josette Burgess, Detention Officer Treacy
McCullough, Angela Vereen, warden’s secretary, Detention Officer
Schoroline Williams and Earl Collins, food service manager, serve as
members of the employee engagement committee. They’re pictured
here at the Elizabeth Community Relations Picnic.
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insidecca.com
CCA.com/InsideCCA
PREA Final Rule: Respond
How should a correctional professional respond to a
Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) incident?
By DeAndra Mack
A
t CCA Hardeman County Correctional
Center staff are well-equipped to properly respond at a moment’s notice. And
offenders have many different options when it
comes to reporting PREA incidents.
“Our staff are in constant training, to ensure
that PREA protocol is followed,” said Mitchell
Bradshaw, assistant warden at Hardeman,
where the entire team receives PREA-related
instruction during in-service and pre-service
training, and in quarterly recalls. Employees also
discuss PREA during each monthly department
meeting. Plus, all staff carry pocket-sized PREA
cards that list action steps to follow if a PREA
allegation is made.
These measures are part of Hardeman’s
efforts to adhere to the Department of Justice’s
standards for responding to PREA incidents:
•
•
•
•
•
Provide timely and appropriate medical and mental health care to victims of
sexual abuse;
Where available, provide access to victim
advocates from rape crisis centers for
emotional support services related to
sexual abuse;
Establish a protocol to preserve evidence
following an incident and offer victims no-cost access to forensic medical
examinations;
•
•
Allow inmates a full and fair opportunity
to file grievances regarding sexual abuse
so as to preserve their ability to seek judicial redress after exhausting administrative remedies;
Maintain records of incidents of abuse
and use those records to formulate future
prevention planning.
In addition to the ongoing PREA instruction, Hardeman’s Sexual Abuse Response Team
(SART) proactively addresses PREA-related concerns. The SART consists of the PREA compliance
manager, a victim services coordinator and
representatives from the security, medical and
mental health areas. This group meets monthly
to discuss past issues and how they can prevent
future incidents. They also walk the facility and
choose different areas to evaluate.
“In each area, we decide if we should have
any concerns about blind spots, and if additional cameras, mirrors, and/or staff are needed
for that area,” Bradshaw explained. “We know
this practice has reduced future PREA concerns.”
Beyond that, the facility provides multiple
communication channels for victim advocates.
For example, inmates have the number to a
PREA hotline they can call to voice concerns
or report incidents. An inmate may leave a
message, and the hotline immediately notifies administrators of the caller’s location.
Hardeman’s facility investigator has access to
the recordings and immediately responds to
messages.
The facility also gives inmates access to the
Women/Men’s Resource & Rape Assistance
Program (WRAP) — a 24-hour service through
which trained counselors take calls, provide
emergency help and give information and
direction to victims. If victims prefer not to
make phone calls, they may write to WRAP, the
Tennessee Department of Correction commissioner, CCA Facility Support Center, or the
warden and his staff.
“Ensuring that complete, detailed documentation is done for each and every PREA incident
is very important,” Mitchell said. “There are no
minor incidents, whether they involve sexual
harassment or sexual assault; all are serious and
important. If an incident occurs, staff immediately take action to ensure, first, the victim is
protected and separated from the predator, and
the evidence is preserved until proper authorities take over.” n
Investigate all allegations of sexual abuse
promptly and thoroughly, and deem allegations substantiated if supported by a
preponderance of the evidence;
Discipline staff and inmate assailants
appropriately, with termination as the
presumptive disciplinary sanction for staff
who commit sexual abuse;
CCA.com/InsideCCA
7
Field Photos
1
A Glance at Recent Facility
Happenings
1 CCA Citrus County Detention Facility organized a crochet program for the
female and male population, which was led by community volunteers. The inmate
group meets weekly with crochet hooks and yarn to crochet baby afghans and
adult-sized lap blankets. These products are then donated to Citrus Memorial
Hospital-Maternity, CMH-Hospice, Citrus Abuse Shelter Association and Citrus
Animal Shelter with a card indicating that they were pre-washed and handmade
by inmates. Read more about this program at CCA.com/InsideCCA.
2
2 CCA Citrus County Detention Facility presented a donation of $1,114 to
the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office for the Florida Law Enforcement Torch Run for
Special Olympics event held in Citrus County. CCA staff participated in the run
itself and a second team of CCA employees assisted at the end of the event by
providing refreshments and food to the participants. Pictured, from left, are Lucy
Avila, Chaplain Daniel Savage, Jeffrey Eisenhower, Quality Assurance Manager
Barbara Ferrara, Lt. Shawn Warren, Debra Schramm, Warden Russell Washburn,
Eleanor Lopez, Lora Klein, and Bret Touchton.
3 As part of the facility “Wheeler Pride” theme this year, employees at CCA
Wheeler Correctional Facility have been reaching out to the city and county to
look for community improvement opportunities. Recently, a former unit manager
from Wheeler, who now serves on the city council, approached Wheeler about
helping with the local little league baseball field, the stands, and equipment building and concession area. Each Wheeler department sent representatives to work
on the project — they took an abandoned field, the adjacent park, and equipment
building and added new life to the area. The city councilman and several members
from the neighborhood also joined CCA staff members to help on the project. The
city purchased the materials for the facility to build picnic tables.
1
3
3
“It was great to see the staff get excited about working in the community, but much more rewarding to see the citizens from the neighborhood who thanked us for getting the park re-opened so that the city can have a little league team and an area for the kids to play
in the neighborhood adjacent to the facility,” said Stephen Smith, classification supervisor and public information officer at Wheeler.
8
CCA.com/InsideCCA
Nathaniel Dunlap
Leyda Rivera
Tiffany Lopez
THE SOURCE OF THE STORIES
CCA’s facility reporters and public information
officers are the local news link between
CCA and the world
By Charlotte Higgins
O
ften, the CCA communications staff
stays in touch with what’s going on at
the facilities because of the hard work
of facility reporters and public information officers (PIOs). These employees frequently serve
as the liaison between InsideCCA magazine, the
local media and you.
Facility reporters are volunteers, who are
typically selected by their warden. They are
responsible for collecting information about
programs, events and people at facilities. They
take photos as they gather the news and send
a monthly report to the CCA Communications
department. They work closely with department heads and other facility leaders to find
stories that are waiting to be shared.
Leyda Rivera is the secretary at CCA Citrus
County Detention Facility in Lecanto, Fla. but
has also worn the hat of facility reporter since
2000. She said she sees herself as someone who
works backstage to help her co-workers shine.
Rivera recognizes that not everyone is excited
to have their picture taken at an event, but that
doesn’t discourage her from covering the event.
She knows her co-workers will be pleased with
the end result when they see themselves on
CCATV, Facebook, or even the local news.
“That, to me, is rewarding, not just at work,
but at home, also,” said Rivera. “My passion is to
see everyone with a smile.”
PIOs are also involved in telling the stories
of CCA employees, especially as it relates to the
local community and media. They are responsible for communicating regularly with the
CCA Public Affairs department. As with facility
reporters, PIOs are volunteers chosen by their
wardens. To help prepare an individual to act
as a PIO, CCA Facility Support Center in Nashville, Tenn. hosts an annual training conference
which all new PIOs are encouraged to attend.
a PIO can have is the ability to be proactive and
regularly share positive information.”
Some individuals choose to act as a PIO and
a facility reporter. One enthusiastic example is
Tiffany Lopez, an administrative supervisor at
CCA Florence Correctional Center in Florence,
Ariz. Despite the extra responsibilities, Lopez
remains positive about sharing the stories of
her co-workers.
“The greatest strength a PIO can have
is the ability to be proactive and
regularly share positive information.”
NATHANIEL DUNLAP
In 2011, Nathaniel Dunlap, Jr. began his work
as a quality assurance manager at CCA Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Ga. He later
accepted the additional role of PIO in 2013. He
said attending the training conference in Nashville
gave him an appreciation for the PIO community.
Dunlap admitted that acting as a PIO is
sometimes a challenge. He relies heavily on
the support of his warden when promoting the
image of CCA in the community.
“A PIO working effectively is not just someone who responds appropriately to negative
information,” Dunlap said. “The greatest strength
“I truly believe in the value of recognizing
staff every chance I get,” said Lopez.
She added that she has seen staff members
experience a morale boost when they see their
pictures and stories on CCATV, in InsideCCA, and
even in local media. The joy she experiences from
seeing the hard work of her co-workers recognized is the best part of acting as a PIO and a facility reporter, she said.
“Knowing that their faces and stories are
featured nationwide for the entire company to
see warms my heart and gives me a great deal
of satisfaction,” she said. n
CCA.com/InsideCCA
9
Service Awards
30 YEARS
Silverdale
Correctional Facility
Ethel Jones
25 YEARS
Davis
Correctional Facility
Houston
Processing Center
Houston
Processing Center
Carla Johnston
Tracie Everett
Steven Noel
20 YEARS
Central Arizona
Detention Center
Central Arizona
Detention Center
Central Arizona
Detention Center
Central Arizona
Detention Center
Central Arizona
Detention Center
Central Arizona
Detention Center
Central Arizona
Detention Center
Central Arizona
Detention Center
Edward Altamirano
Alan Aultman
Cary Davis
Deborah English
Anthony Hillis
Joanne Kling
Victor Martinez
Evelyn Thomas
Central Arizona
Detention Center
Central Arizona
Detention Center
Leavenworth
Detention Center
Saguaro
Correctional Center
San Diego
Correctional Facility
Winn
Correctional Center
Juan Valenzuela
Danny Woodard
Harold Foskett
Jody Bradley, Jr.
Charlotte Burns
Charles Olliff
15 YEARS
California City
Correctional Center
Facility
Support Center
Facility
Support Center
Central Arizona
Detention Center
Central Arizona
Detention Center
Central Arizona
Detention Center
Central Arizona
Detention Center
Central Arizona
Detention Center
Virgil Ensey
Lei Ann Buchanan
Jason Cope
Regan Beem-Garcia
Edward Bonner
Randall Fiorini
Irene Romero
John Sanchez
Cibola County
Correctional Center
Cibola County
Correctional Center
Cibola County
Correctional Center
Cimarron
Correctional Facility
Citrus County
Detention Facility
Coffee
Correctional Facility
Crossroads
Correctional Center
Crossroads
Correctional Center
Patrick Lewis
Patricia Padilla
Ariana Ulibarri
Angellee Woolf
Bret Touchton
Stacey Nelson
Bret Jackson
Brian Orvis
Eden
Detention Center
Elizabeth
Detention Center
Elizabeth
Detention Centerh
Hardeman County
Correctional Center
Hardeman County
Correctional Center
Betty King
Michael Graham
Ana Jardim
Barnie Bills, Sr.
James Henderson
Crowley County
Correctional Center
Davis
Davis
Correctional Facility Correctional Facility
Paul Pacheo
10
CCA.com/InsideCCA
David Anthony
Elaine Wornell
15 YEARS
Hardeman County
Correctional Center
Hardeman County
Correctional Center
Houston
Processing Center
Houston
Processing Center
Kit Carson
Correctional Center
Kit Carson
Correctional Center
Laredo
Processing Center
Laredo
Processing Center
Julia Hughes
Ralph Pirtle
Michelle Menzer
Letitia Winters
Rex Bagley
Judith Fuchs
Pablo Cavazos
Julio Chapa
McRae
Correctional Facility
Metro-Davidson
County Det. Facility
Saguaro
Correctional Center
Saguaro
Correctional Center
South Central
Correctional Center
South Central
Correctional Center
Christopher Ashley
Latanya Lester
Cheryl Hoskins
Gregory Thomas
Billy Ayers
Gina Gonzales
Fred Figueroa
Wheeler
Correctional Facility
Whiteville
Correctional Facility
Whiteville
Correctional Facility
Winn
Correctional Center
Lillian Newkirk
Shatonia Montgomery
Calvin Towles
Angel Martin
Wheeler
Wheeler
Wheeler
Correctional Facility Correctional Facility Correctional Facility
Lillie Faison
Jeffery Miles
Donna Moss
Tallahatchie County
Wheeler
Correctional Facility Correctional Facility
Rose Edmond
10 YEARS
Bent County Correctional Facility
Harold Bonham
Tamatha Gasser-Gallegos
Angelica Jenkins
Ray Zamora
Dolores Turner
Bradshaw State Jail
Ronald Roberts
John Wingate
Beth Rutledge
Deshaunda Anderson
Bridgeport Pre-Parole Transfer Facility
Emma Hawkins
California City Correctional Center
Deborah Smith
Robin Kittredge
Cimarron Correctional Facility
Diana Wesson
Citrus County Detention Facility
Heather Biedenstein
Eduardo Flores
Coffee Correctional Facility
Margie Carson
Katherine Hutchinson
Correctional Treatment Facility
Carl Kitt
Crossroads Correctional Center
Mark Emerson
Mary Ann Kennedy
Davis Correctional Facility
Kimber Palmer
William Barneck, II
Eden Detention Center
Bridget Bednar
Juan Huerta, Jr.
Victor Moron
Stacy Waechter
Elizabeth Detention Center
Corey Jones
Stanley Sirleaf
Michelle Williams
Kalvin Bravo
Facility Support Center
Bridget Mason
Anthony Odom
Sherry Carr
Jay Brown
Aaron Bruch
Florence Correctional Center
Carlos Almaraz
Douglass Birdsong
Danielle Garcia
Richard Hernandez
Ursula Holton
Susie Salazar
Mary Servant
David Velasco
Houston Processing Center
Leonard Balderas
Carl Boyd
Wayne Davis
Dorian Harrison
Kenneth Moore
Freda Wilkerson
Michael Davis
Dwight Swearington
Denise Thomas
Leavenworth Detention Center
Barbara Crouse
Lindsey State Jail
Shirley Wright
Sandy Peevey
Wister Clevenger
McRae Correctional Facility
Tina Marie Fordham
Michael Kerr
Robert Mann, Jr.
Caleb McRae
Raleigh Mills, Jr.
Shameka Scott
Eugene Herrington
Micky Best
Ronald Folk
Metro-Davidson County Det. Facility
Faith Omoruyi Stewart
North Fork Correctional Facility
Robin Burton
Lashondra Conner
Northeast Ohio Correctional Center
Victoria Caron
Lynne Poe
Red Rock Correctional Center
Georgella Alexander
Raymond Sabala
San Diego Correctional Facility
Jeremy Nobleza
Christopher Garcia Santeanez
Lito Tisuela
Debra Vecchione
Juan Samaniego
Silverdale Detention Facilities
Aaron McGary
Kimberly Baker Romans
Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility
Donna Green
Alberta Harris
Wheeler Correctional Facility
Anndrella Pound
Whiteville Correctional Facility
Sedrick Palmer
Willacy State Jail
Virgil Crittenden
CCA.com/InsideCCA
11
Recovery
A
F A M I L Y
A F F A I R
Father and son overcome the odds to put their
lives back on track and give back to those who
are struggling through similar experiences
By Christina Vinson
Visit
CCA.com/InsideCCA
to watch the Cosby
family’s inspiring story.
12
CCA.com/InsideCCA
W
hen Danny Cosby Sr. held his newborn son, Danny Jr., for the first time,
he knew one thing: his son had his
heart. Even years later, when his firstborn would
make decisions that wreaked havoc on their
family, his love for his namesake was tested but
never disappeared.
A cycle of challenges started long before
Cosby Jr. (now 34) was born. Cosby Sr. was born
into a troubled home, and by age 11, began
using LSD, quickly backsliding into drugs. His
problematic habits escalated, and as a young
adult he committed armed robbery and served
prison time.
While on parole, Cosby Sr. met his future wife,
also an addict. Relationship troubles soon began.
“We got into a big fight one night,” he
recalled, “I said I was running from God.” They
went to a church on New Year’s Eve and recommitted their lives to God — and weeks later got
married. The following year, Cosby Jr. was born,
with their daughter Bonnie and son Joshua
arriving over the next several years. Two recovering drug addicts, with new spiritual lives and
a beautiful family — it was a seemingly impossible story, given the circumstances.
Cosby Sr. is now an addictions treatment
manager at CCA Whiteville Correctional
Danny Cosby Sr., far left, and Danny Cosby Jr. (standing) pray with inmates during Danny Jr.’s visit to
CCA Whiteville Correctional Facility in Whiteville, Tenn. The father and son both struggled with substance abuse in their lives; the former is now a CCA addictions treatment manager and the latter visits
correctional facilities, sharing his story with those who are experiencing the same struggles he did.
Facility in Whiteville, Tenn., with 35 years of
sobriety. He manages a large therapeutic drug
treatment program for more than 250 inmates.
Helping addicts recover hits close to home for
him because of his past and because it almost
ruined the life of Cosby Jr. The family went
through painful times to reach a place of hope.
Cosby Jr. said, “I had an awesome childhood.
Dad and mom were always there.” He sang in the
church worship band, and his dad described him
as a “model kid.” But things turned from good to
bad … really bad. “At 14 years old I started getting rebellious,” Cosby Jr. said. “I went from mom
and dad being my everything, to them being
everything I didn’t want to be around.”
His drinking intensified, and then his life
changed dramatically when he experienced
a profound and personal event—which he
described as the “worst thing I had ever been
through in my life.” Cosby Jr. began spiraling. Fast.
He followed in his father’s earlier footsteps—
drugs. “When I took pills for the first time, I felt
euphoric. From that point on, I became highly
addicted.” He began selling pills in addition to
his job at a sales company to keep up with his
habit, and even emptied out his 401(k). Eventually, Cosby Jr. moved to heroin. “I wanted to feel
good so bad, and was powerless to say no. “
Meanwhile, his parents were brokenhearted
and utterly devastated. Cosby Sr. admitted, “I
didn’t know how to deal with it. It was killing
my wife and me; there aren’t words to describe
it … I didn’t relapse but wouldn’t have been
surprised if I did.”
Despite his parents’ deep pain, Cosby Jr.
couldn’t stop. “I started stealing to support my
habit. I’d sleep in dope houses and put in my arm
anything I could get into a needle. It was a blur.”
Cosby Jr. recalled that his parents talked
about what they would need to tell each other
when he was dead and they needed to identify the body. “I didn’t care about anything but
CCA.com/InsideCCA
13
getting high; I stayed up for 14 days in a hotel
room. It was like I plummeted into hell for that
time in my life.” By the young age of 23, he was
strung out, broke, homeless, and walking the
streets of Memphis.
to a strong, loving bond. “We grew close again.
I started laughing a lot and crying.”
On Oct. 27, 2005, Cosby Jr.’s painful past
caught up with him. He was sent to court on a
misdemeanor. He thought he’d have to pay a
“The change of going from extreme worst to
extreme best has made life so much more
colorful and fruitful. Now I don’t want to die
anymore; I just want to keep living.”
COSBY JR
Sept. 18, 2005, was when it all turned around.
Cosby Jr. had been kicked out of a homeless
shelter. A cab driver picked him up and said, “I
know where you need to go.” He pulled into Mission Global Ministries and told him, “Go in there;
they’ll help you.”
When he walked in, with track marks visible on his arms, the preacher spoke directly to
Cosby Jr., saying, “God loves you, He still loves
you; He won’t give up on you, so don’t give up
on yourself.”
It was the revelation he needed. “I felt like
water was thrown in my face. I wiped my face
and realized I was crying. It was like my soul
was crying.” The preacher walked up to Cosby
Jr., put his arms around him, and prayed with
him. “You’re going to be okay; you’re going to
be okay,” he repeated. “God brought you here.”
For the first time in a long time, Cosby Jr.
called his parents. His mom was so surprised to
hear his voice, she screamed and dropped the
phone. “I told my parents where I was, and they
started visiting me for the month I stayed there,
while God began rebuilding the love between
me and my family.”
His relationship with his dad slowly healed,
transforming from an utterly broken relationship
14
CCA.com/InsideCCA
fine and be free to leave, but those hopes vanished once two detectives came into the court
room. “They had a picture of me in their hand
and handcuffed me.” Instead of fighting, Cosby
Jr. simply said, “It’s time. I’m ready.”
Cosby Jr. admitted to his crimes. He served
four years—two in Tennessee and two in Mississippi at the Delta Correctional Facility, which
was operated by CCA. While in prison, he recalls
the transformation that took place in his heart.
While participating in the faith-based services at Delta, he felt God speaking to his soul,
asking, “Are you going to serve me because I am
going to give you something? Or are you going
to serve me because I am with you?”
Cosby Jr. turned his prison sentence into a
ministry of sorts. He sang in the inmate worship
band and said he helped bring many men to the
Lord. “There were a lot of horrible days. But then
it was almost like the Lord would move in with
the wind into my soul and give me motivation
to keep going. It was like God turned the dungeon into a palace because Jesus was with me,”
Cosby Jr. said.
When Cosby Jr. was sent to prison, he told his
parents, “Y’all don’t need to support me, let me
do this time.” But his dad retorted with the love
Left: Danny Cosby Jr. prays with an inmate at
CCA Whiteville Correctional Facility. Cosby Jr.
himself was once incarcerated in a CCA facility,
and while in prison, said he helped bring many
men closer to God.
Middle: Danny Cosby Sr., left, and Danny Cosby
Jr. walk down a hallway at CCA Whiteville
Correctional Facility, where Cosby Sr. works.
Both Sr. and Jr. were incarcerated at one point
in their lives, but have since turned their lives
around and now work to help others get their
lives straightened out as well.
Right: Danny Cosby Sr. speaks to inmates at CCA
Whiteville Correctional Facility. As an addictions treatment counselor there, he manages a
therapeutic drug treatment program for more
than 250 inmates.
only a father has: “No, son, we are with you, man.”
“He got serious in prison,” his dad said. “I am
proud of my other two kids and of Danny. A
lot of guys intend to do it, but he has actually
walked it out.”
Cosby Jr. was released from prison on Nov.
24, 2009. He has shared his story countless
times, and his dad said, “I have inmates talk
about how Danny’s story impacted them. It
gives them hope.”
As of August 2014, Cosby Jr. has just a few
months of parole left. To say his life has been
utterly turned around is an understatement. “To
have a home, a job, a ministry, to be able to do
music again and be married— to have this life
that I never dreamed was possible. To have a
relationship with my mom dad, brother and sister—it’s priceless. Words fail at describing how
full of joy I am. To know I can go and play tennis
with my dad, joke with him, laugh with him, is
amazing. The change of going from extreme
worst to extreme best has made life so much
more colorful and fruitful. Now I don’t want to
die anymore; I just want to keep living.” n
14
CCA FUNCTIONAL AREA REVIEW:
Completed FAR Recommendations
Going FAR with New Ideas
By James C. Dillard
T
o be successful in the partnership corrections industry, CCA is continuously
evaluating the work we do and embracing the idea that, as a company, there are always
opportunities to improve and grow.
In keeping with this philosophy, CCA introduced the CCA-wide Functional Area Review
(FAR) process in 2012, a focused and highly collaborative effort to: 1) Identify new ideas from
facilities. 2) Submit them for evaluation. 3) Put
them into action.
Appropriately, the slogan for this initiative is
“Going FAR with new ideas.”
“The FAR is a valuable
opportunity to refresh ourselves as a company and to
refine processes,” said Mike
Ayers, senior director of
continuous improvement,
Mike Ayers
who is coordinating the FAR
effort. “As part of CCA’s long-term commitment
to continuous improvement, we are capturing
best practices and standards that already exist
Bobby Simon, a senior
correctional officer and Security Threat Group coordinator at CCA Metro-Davidson
County Detention Facility,
in Nashville, Tenn., was one
Bobby Simon
of the individuals attending
the Support FAR Work Team sessions.
“I really enjoyed the process when it came to
discovering new ways that CCA and other facilities operate different departments, and I believe
the information that was shared will assist CCA in
moving in the right direction for years to come,”
Simon said. “I believe the biggest benefit is that
it allows CCA to identify areas in the organization that may need to be managed differently
or come up with company standards going forward toward the growth of those departments.”
Ayers expressed his appreciation for the CCA
employees who met in Nashville for the FAR
Work Team sessions.
“We were fortunate that we had professionals from many different backgrounds who were
“I believe that the FAR is not only a challenge
but an opportunity for our company. The
FAR allows us to look toward the future as a
company that is proactive instead of reactive.”
DANIEL MARR
at many of our facilities and sharing them across
the organization.” The FAR extends to all major
CCA departments – Human Resources, Finance,
Partnership Development, Legal, Real Estate,
Operations and Technology.
Sharing ideas and brainstorming were
important functions of the nine Field FAR Work
Teams, which were comprised of a diverse cross
section of the CCA family. The FAR Work Teams
gathered in Nashville, for nine different week
long sessions — each focused on a different
functional area. These took place over a sevenmonth period of time and included representatives from more than 30 facilities.
willing to share their diverse experiences during
the Work Team sessions,” Ayers said. “They used
the opportunity as Work Team members to talk in
detail about the work they do, how they do it, and
give their opinions on how to do things better.”
Daniel Marr, a nurse and health services
administrator at CCA Winn Correctional Facility, in Winnfield, La. also participated in the
Health Services FAR Work Team sessions. He said
the range of disciplines present in the healthcare portion of the FAR, which included mental
health staff, nursing staff and dental technicians,
helped them identify bold, new ideas for the
company’s future.
Expanded Skillsoft
experience to mid-managers
Streamlined employment
applications
High vacancy positions
will now automatically be
reposted by FSC recruiters
Reinforced existing
medical training and
created a laminated card
that describes emergency
symptoms
Procedures were added
for health emergencies for
facility visitors
“I believe that the FAR is
not only a challenge but an
opportunity for our company,” Marr said. “The FAR
allows us to look toward the
future as a company that is
Daniel Marr
proactive instead of reactive.”
CCA is committed to investing the time
required to ensure that this process is done in
a thoughtful manner, by giving due attention
to each of the recommendations put forth by
the Work Teams. The Executive Team at the
CCA Facility Support Center (FSC) began
reviewing the recommendations from the
first nine Field FAR work teams at the beginning of 2014, and that review will continue
through the fourth quarter. There are also
subject matter experts at the FSC assigned
to reviewing and, in many cases, acting on
recommendations put forth by the FAR Work
Team participants.
“We are pleased to see a growing list of
recommendations that have been successfully
implemented already,” Ayers said. “You’ll be
hearing more specific information about those
and other impending successful completions
in the coming weeks and months.”
Continued on page 20
CCA.com/InsideCCA
15
THE BEATITUDES WITH A BEAT
The journalings of
inmates, put into
song by Nashville
artists, uplift all
in attendance
N
ashville, Tenn., is known across the
country for its music scene. Any night
of the week, local singers and songwriters can be found performing their original
songs in a variety of venues, eager to share their
gift with listeners. The talent showcased on June
17, by Nashville artists at the CCA Metro-Davidson County Detention Facility in Nashville was
designed to teach inmates about the eight
Beatitudes, a biblical selection found in the
book of Matthew where Jesus describes positive virtues.
During the class, which was led by local religious volunteers, inmates would read, discuss
and journal on one of the Beatitudes each week.
As a part of their journaling, they would answer
By Charlotte Higgins
“The study of the Beatitudes was a life
changing experience ... I find myself reflecting
on them daily, bringing my emotions under
control with the power of God’s Word.”
WYNDELL V., Inmate
exceptional. But it was their co-writers, sitting
closest to the stage in their inmate uniforms,
who made the evening truly unique.
The events leading up to this special evening at Metro started with a faith-based class,
16
CCA.com/InsideCCA
questions such as “What do you or don’t you
like about this Beatitude?” and “When have you
seen this Beatitude lived out in your life?” At the
end of the class session, their thoughts were collected and placed in an envelope.
Above: Rachael Lampa, left, visits with inmates during the Beatitudes concert held at CCA MetroDavidson County Detenion Facility June 17. Lampa was one of the artists who performed original
pieces written by inmates, which were based on selections from the Beatitudes biblical passages.
Left: CCA Metro-Davidson County Detention Facility inmate joined Curt Campbell
(far right), from Men of Valor, and Nathan Lee
from Send Musicians to Prison in a moment
of prayer on stage at the conclusion of the
Beatitudes concert.
“The study of the Beatitudes was a life
changing experience,” said Wyndell V., an inmate
participant in the class. “I find myself reflecting
on them daily, bringing my emotions under
control with the power of God’s Word.”
The inmates’ contemplations from each
week were given to a local songwriter, who used
their reflections as inspiration for an original
song about the respective Beatitude.
Behind the scenes, Men of Valor, a nonprofit
organization that partners with CCA to offer
biblically-based programming and mentoring to
incarcerated men, along with Send Musicians to
Prison, a nonprofit organization that arranges for
musicians to perform in prison facilities, worked
persistently to organize the meaningful class sessions and coordinate with interested musicians.
This was the first time for the two nonprofits to work together in such a capacity. They
decided to name the event “The Beatitudes:
Through the Eyes & Hearts of the Incarcerated.”
When the night of the concert arrived, no one
knew exactly what to expect.
The evening of the event, Curt Campbell,
Men of Valor project manager, and Nathan Lee,
singer/songwriter and key organizer of Send
Musicians to Prison, welcomed all to the event
held in the Metro gymnasium. The two men
emphasized that the point of the concert was
to celebrate the journeys of the 50 men who
participated in the sessions.
“Tonight is for you,” he said, addressing the
inmates seated in the front rows. “Tonight is all
about love as seen through the Beatitudes.”
After the opening remarks, eight participating singer/songwriters took turns performing
their original songs about the Beatitude they
had been assigned. This was the first time for
several of the artists to perform these pieces for
an audience. It was evident that the insights of
the inmates and the resulting writing process
had touched them deeply. Each introduced his
or her creation with words about personal struggles with faith, love and the standards taught in
the Beatitudes. The conclusion of each song was
met with a standing ovation.
Before the event ended, those in attendance
recognized the hard work of Metro Warden Blair
Leibach, Yolanda Pittman, Metro chief of security, and other officers on duty.
“Events like this require a lot of diligent
attention, and we greatly appreciate the time
of the CCA staff,” said Campbell. “This could not
have happened without them.”
To conclude the event, an inmate joined Lee
and Campbell on stage to lead the assembly
in prayer.
Afterwards, Campbell expressed his enthusiasm about the impact the event had on inmates,
songwriters and attendees alike.
“I can definitely see us doing this again,”
he said. n
Below: Tim Rosenau, one of the artists who performed at the Beatitudes concert, shares a hug
with an inmate after the concert ended.
CCA.com/InsideCCA
17
Dedication.
Passion.
Service.
Volunteers at CCA serve men
and women at CCA locations
around the country.
“A
blessing beyond imagination,”
“competent and committed,”
and “great role models” are
a few of the ways volunteers Rodger
Monette, Leo Vath, and Pastor David Baldwin and Cheryl Baldwin are described by
the CCA volunteer coordinators who see
them supporting and guiding inmates
and detainees.
Each volunteer hails from a different
religious or charitable organization and
serves with a different CCA facility, but
their passion, dedication, and heart binds
them in a common cause — helping others find a better way to live their lives.
By Christina Vinson
Rodger Monette
“In any one week Rodger delivers more
quality service to the facility than most
volunteers do in two or three months.”
CHAPLAIN CLAUD BERY
Above: Rodger Monette has more than 30 years’
experience volunteering in prisons and currently
volunteers at the CCA San Diego Correctional
Facility, where he’s volunteered since 2006 on
behalf of First Baptist Church of Spring Valley.
V
olunteering since he was in his 20’s,
Monette has more than 30 years’ experience volunteering in prisons. He is now at the
CCA San Diego Correctional Facility, where
he’s volunteered since 2006 on behalf of First
Baptist Church of Spring Valley. He volunteers
18
CCA.com/InsideCCA
20 hours a week, and said he loves working with
the religious programs, praying with inmates,
serving through Bible studies, passing out religious handouts, and doing visitation.
Chaplain Claud Bery, who oversees the volunteer work he performs for First Baptist Church
of Spring Valley, said, “In any one week Rodger
delivers more quality service to the facility than
most volunteers do in two or three months. A
true ‘calling’ backed up by years of commitment
and hours upon hours of dedicated assistance …
I thank God for such a blessing to us all at the San
Diego Correctional Facility.”
It was adversity in his own life that led to
the happy accident of Monette discovering a
passion for volunteering in prisons. His parents had passed away from cancer, and he
was left alone and feeling depressed. To him,
it seemed like everything was going downhill.
And then Monette found himself visiting a
CCA facility.
“CCA kind of fell into my lap. I went in there
and found out I loved it; it pulled me out of the
pit. Ever since then, it’s a brand new day.” He
laughed, “I don’t have time to be depressed
anymore.”
Bery reflected on the thousands of detainees
and inmates — men and women — Monette has
served at the facility. “For the record, let me just
say on their behalf that the love and respect they
have expressed to me for Rodger has touched
my heart deeply and given me a great cause to
look much more closely at myself here at work
and change many of my ways.”
Leo Vath
“Leo is that rare and balanced combination
of competence and commitment.”
CHAPLAIN MICHAEL HARPER
I
Above: Volunteer Leo Vath spends his time at
the CCA Nevada Southern Detention Center
as well as at the state-run Southern Desert
Detention Center (SDCC) in Indian Springs.
n Pahrump, Nev., volunteer Leo Vath spends
his time at the CCA Nevada Southern Detention Center as well as at the state-run Southern Desert Detention Center (SDCC) in Indian
Springs. Before his volunteer work with CCA,
Vath was a mining electrician, and ended up
taking an electrical job at SDCC toward the end
of his career, where he had inmate assistants.
“When I retired, God called me to Belief and Faith
Ministry, and here I am for the past eight years.”
He considers it an opportunity to journey
with the inmates through their relationship with
God, and said, “I am here to challenge them in
their relationship with God and work with them
through Bible studies. I have learned a lot on
how God is working through their situation in
these studies.”
Chaplain Michael Harper oversees Vath’s
volunteer services through Belief and Faith
Ministry and raved about his excellent work.
“Leo is that rare and balanced combination of
competence and commitment. It’s wonderful
to find a volunteer who is equally both. Nevada
Southern Detention Center has been blessed
with Leo’s competence and commitment since
it opened four years ago.”
Pastor David Baldwin & Cheryl Baldwin
“I hope and pray that I’ve been as much of a
blessing to them as they have been to me.”
PASTOR DAVID BALDWIN
I
n Nashville, Tenn. Pastor David Baldwin and
his wife Cheryl Baldwin volunteer in the CCA
Metro-Davidson County Detention Facility. They described their volunteerism at CCA
for the past four years as being propelled by
a deep passion in their souls. David shared
his thoughts on being a part of the volunteer
ministry and said, “I volunteer at the facility in
Metro-Davidson because, first of all, I’m being
faithful to a burden the Lord put on my heart
to help incarcerated women and men find true
peace and hope which can only come through
a relationship with Jesus Christ.”
He, along with his wife, facilitate a faith-based
program called Life Principles, which involves
educating inmates on anger resolution, selfacceptance, responsibility, how to find genuine
love, and many other areas. “I have been greatly
blessed and privileged to be allowed to go into a
CCA facility and meet wonderful the employees
of that organization, as well as watch the lives of
many inmates be transformed into people with
a renewed hope in life. I hope and pray that I’ve
been as much of a blessing to them as they have
been to me. I am deeply grateful.”
Chaplain Henry Davidson added, “Pastor
David and Cheryl Baldwin are great role models
to the family. They are a husband and wife team
NEARLY 4,000 VOLUNTEERS, working on
behalf of religious or charitable organizations,
serve inmates and detainees within CCA facilities across the country. These volunteers offer a
range of services, including faith-based classes,
socialization skills, Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous, literacy education, wellness programs,
reentry planning, and more. Each volunteer is an
essential part of the reentry process - strengthening the heartbeat behind CCA’s mission of
Above: In Nashville, Tenn. Pastor David and Cheryl
Baldwin volunteer in the CCA Metro-Davidson
County Detention Facility. They described their
volunteerism at CCA for the past four years as
being propelled by a deep passion in their souls.
who believes in the word of God. They enjoy
teaching about God’s plan and how we should
communicate as brothers and sisters of Christ.”
serving individuals in meaningful ways and
enriching lives from coast to coast.
Visit cca.com/volunteer to learn more about
volunteer opportunities in CCA. n
CCA.com/InsideCCA
19
timeline
Kerr Fam
August 7, 2014
We thank God and CCA for the food on our table
and the bed where we lay!
— Thank you from the Kerr Family, North Fork
Correctional Facility, Sayre, OK
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2 people like this.
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Tina Houston Fraker
August 4, 2014
Help us give a warm CCA welcome to our
new staff who graduated the Learning and
Development academy. They will be going the
Crowley County Correctional Facility family. On
July 30, 2014, we graduated 16 total new staff.
Applause
ACA Accreditation
Congratulations to the following facilities on recently being recommended for reaccreditation by the American Correctional Association and their high audit scores:
Facility
ACA Score
Bent County Correctional Facility
100%
South Central Correctional Center
99.7%
Silverdale Correctional Facility
99.35%
Tracking Team Safety
The following facilities have gone more than a year without a lost-time accident
(as of press time):
Facility
Date of Last
Lost-Time Accident
Houston Processing Center
June 26, 2013
Laredo Processing Center
Sept. 13, 2012
Marion County Jail II
July 23, 2013
McRae Correctional Facility
April 12, 2012
Willacy State Jail
May 13, 2013
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6 people like this.
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Corrections Corporation of America
August 1, 2014
Damon, CCA’s president and CEO, has been on
the road, visiting the west coast this week. Here
is a great photo from his visit to CCA San Diego
Detention Center. Plus, check our Timeline to see
more photos that he shared.
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Facebook.com/CorrectionsCorp
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Going FAR with New Ideas
Dion Capucci,
a case manager
and Unit Management and Security
FAR Work Team
Participant from
Dion Cappucci
CCA Citrus County
Detention Facility, in Lecanto, Fla.
said he hoped the FAR brings about
positive changes for CCA.
“There were a few passionate presentations from tenured staff who
were willing and able to contribute
sound solutions to long-standing
hurdles,” Capucci said. “Although the
FAR process started out as a broad
brainstorming session, it progressively narrowed to a clear vision of
recommendations for the progression
continued from page 15
of our company. I also believe utilizing
a FAR concept on the local facility level
would benefit the company and staff
to a great extent.”
Ayers said that CCA is building on
existing successes by reflecting carefully on how we can do them better.
Part of that process includes conducting a FAR focused on the FSC. The FSC
FAR is scheduled to begin later this
year and will reflect the same level of
commitment to improving CCA as the
Field FAR did.
“Everything we invest into the FAR
will be put toward improving CCA,”
Ayers said. “Part of ensuring we’re on
the right track as a company is occasionally checking the pulse of the organization. The FAR will do just that.” n
Details
5
8
2
6
4
3
10
Hallway Safety
9
By John Diffenderfer
7
CCA’s ability to protect the communities in which they
have facilities, its employees and inmates is dependent on
maintaining a safe work environment. Employees should
always be proactive about identifying, preventing and
removing potential hazards. Slips, trips and falls are usually preventable. Always follow policy, and if you notice
anything that seems amiss, you should immediately notify
either your supervisor and/or facility safety officer.
1
Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind:
1
Ensure that the floors are clean and dry.
6
Close doors that should be closed.
2
Use mirrors and audible signals when
approaching blind corners.
7
Remind staff and inmates to abide by
traffic markings on the floors.
3
Make sure that all signage is both accurate
and legible.
8
Be aware of fire systems and emergency
procedures.
4
Never grab a closing door or walk through
a gate while it is in motion.
9
Keep your head up and watch where you
are headed.
5
Keep an eye on the light fixtures and bulbs,
and report any that are malfunctioning.
10
Watch for and remove misplaced items
and waste buildup.
CCA.com/InsideCCA
21
New Faces New Places
District of Columbia
Charlie Peterson has transferred
to Correctional Treatment Facility
as warden. Peterson joined CCA
in 1995 as a correctional officer at
Metro-Davidson County Detention
Facility, where he also served as assistant shift
supervisor, shift supervisor, acting program manager and facility investigator. He became assistant
chief of security at David L. Moss Criminal Justice
Center, where he was promoted to chief of security.
Peterson joined Torrance County Detention Facility as assistant warden and later served in that role
at Stewart Detention Center and North Georgia
Detention Center, where he was promoted to warden. He later became assistant warden at Adams
County Correctional Center. Peterson holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in
organizational management with a specialization
in human resources.
Georgia
Latasha Y. Harris has transferred to
Coffee Correctional Facility as chief
of security. Harris joined CCA in1999
as a correctional officer at Wheeler
Correctional Facility, where she also
served as senior correctional officer, assistant shift
supervisor, shift supervisor, master scheduler, unit
manager, assistant chief of security and chief of
security. Harris served for nearly two years in the
U.S. Navy, where she was a seaman apprentice and
a personnel manager.
Ohio
Facility Support Center
Michelle Barker has been promoted to senior director of proposal
development. Barker first joined
CCA in 1995 as an intern at MetroDavidson County Detention Facility,
where she later served as a correctional officer,
correctional counselor and unit manager/classification supervisor. She became manager of policy and
procedure at the Facility Support Center, where she
was promoted to director of proposal development. Barker holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology
from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
Melanie Carnaggio has been promoted to senior director of talent
acquisition. Carnaggio joined CCA in
2007 as a regional employment specialist at the Facility Support Center,
where she has also served as a recruiter, manager
of recruiting & selection, and director of recruiting
& selection. Prior to joining CCA, Carnaggio worked
as an employment specialist and an associate
recruiter at ClientLogic, Inc. Before that, she was a
human resources associate at Horne LLP. She holds
a bachelor’s degree in business administration in
management, and a master’s degree in business
administration.
Kevin Johnson has been named
assistant warden at Northeast Ohio
Correctional Center. Johnson brings
25 years of corrections experience
with the Federal Bureau of Prisons,
where he started as a correctional officer and
later served as lieutenant, captain, emergency
preparedness specialist, executive assistant and
associate warden. He holds an associate degree in
criminal justice from Colorado Technical University.
Cole Carter has been promoted to
associate general counsel (operations). Carter joined CCA in 1992
as an instructor at Metro-Davidson
County Detention Facility, where
later became an instructor supervisor. He was promoted to manager of educational services at the
Facility Support Center, where he has also served
as director of educational services and assistant
general counsel (operations).
Oklahoma
David Churchill has been promoted
to vice president of human resources.
Churchill joined CCA in 2012 as senior
director of organiza­tion development and was promoted to managing director of talent man­agement. Before joining
CCA, he was vice president of talent & organization
development at Tractor Supply Company. Prior to
that, he worked as director of talent and organiza­
tion development at Ingersoll Rand. He was also
senior vice president of leadership development at
Bank of America; and manager of global learning
and organization development at Seagate Technol­
ogy. Churchill holds a bachelor’s degree in business
management from Eastern Illinois University, a mas­
ter’s degree in business administration from Aurora
University, and a doctoral degree in organizational
development from George Washington University.
Chris Cordova has transferred to
North Fork Correctional Facility as
chief of security. Cordova joined CCA
in 1999 as a correctional officer at
Huerfano County Correctional Center, where he also served as an STG sergeant, facility investigator and shift supervisor. He joined La
Palma Correctional Center as shift supervisor/California review captain and was promoted to chief
of security at Diamondback Correctional Facility.
Anastacio Perez has transferred to
North Fork Correctional Facility as
assistant warden. Perez joined CCA in
1997 as a correctional officer at Great
Plains Correctional Facility before
going to Diamondback Correctional Facility, where
22
he served as a sergeant, lieutenant, shift supervisor, assistant chief of security, chief of security and
assistant warden. He transferred to Idaho Correctional Center as assistant warden.
CCA.com/InsideCCA
Scott Craddock has been promoted to associate general counsel (ethics). Craddock joined CCA in
2003 as assistant general counsel at
the Facility Support Center, where
he has also served as assistant general counsel (compliance). Craddock is the company’s
assistant corporate secretary and holds leadership roles with the CCAssist Fund and the CCA
Political Action Committee. Prior to joining CCA,
Craddock was an associate at Gibson, Dunn &
Crutcher, LLP and at Harwell, Howard, Hyne, Gabbert & Manner, P.C. He holds a bachelor’s degree
in psychology from the University of Kentucky
and a juris doctor degree from the Columbia
University School of Law.
John Diffenderfer has been promoted to director of creative services. Diffenderfer joined CCA in
2011 as creative specialist at the
Facility Support Center, where he
has also served as senior manager of creative
services. Prior to joining CCA, Diffenderfer
worked as a senior sales support coordinator at
ServiceSource, Inc. and director of public relations and marketing at Dreamstream, LLC. He
holds a bachelor’s degree in communication
from Lee University.
Jason Ellis has been promoted
to managing director of operations (Division VI). Ellis joined CCA
in 1993 as a correctional officer at
Metro-Davidson County Detention Facility, where he also served as assistant
shift commander and shift commander. He was
promoted to chief of security at Mountain View
Correctional Facility, and later held the same role
at Citrus County Detention Facility, where he was
promoted again to assistant warden. Ellis transferred to Wilkinson County Correctional Facility
as assistant warden, and later served as warden
at Citrus County Detention Facility, Graceville
Correctional Facility and Idaho Correctional
Center. He joined the Facility Support Center as
senior director of security. Ellis holds a bachelor’s
degree in criminal justice from Middle Tennessee
State University and a master’s degree in business
administration from Northcentral University.
Tom Shaw has been promoted to
assistant general counsel. Shaw
joined CCA in 1995 as an academic
instructor at Metro-Davidson
County Detention Facility, where
also served as an instructor supervisor. He was
promoted to manager of educational services
at the Facility Support Center, where he has also
served as director of educational and e-discovery
counsel services. Shaw holds a bachelor’s degree
from Western Kentucky University and a juris doctor degree from the Nashville School of Law.
Take Control of Your
Wellness and Your Wallet
Complete two important steps by Oct. 31 to avoid
a surcharge on your 2015/2016 medical coverage
By DeAndra Mack
L
ooking for a way to stretch your dollars
while living healthier? Look no further. If
you’re enrolled in a United Healthcare or
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee major medical plan, you can do this by taking two simple
steps as part of CCA’s wellness program, Live CCA.
“Live CCA is about helping employees be
their best — at work and away,” said Michelle
Burleson, CCA senior director of employee
benefits. “This includes making good choices
regarding your health, taking the time to get
check-ups and screenings, and evaluating what
lifestyles or habits you could change that would
improve your health status.”
Through Live CCA, eligible employees are
invited to take an online health assessment and
get a biometric screening annually. Employees
who complete both steps by Oct. 31, 2014 will
avoid paying a wellness premium/surcharge for
the plan year, April1, 2015 through March 31, 2016.
STEP ONE:
Complete the Onlife Health Assessment.
This online questionnaire takes about
20 minutes to complete, and your personal
responses are totally confidential; no CCA
employee will have access to your individual
answers. The health assessment affirms healthy
behaviors, offers suggestions for maintaining
good health, and makes staff aware of any lifestyle choices that may be contributing to health
concerns, or could lead to chronic conditions
such as hypertension or diabetes.
The health assessment is available at www.
OnlifeHealth.com. If you have not previously
registered on the site, click on the “Get Started”
button then enter the key code, LIVECCA.
STEP TWO:
Complete a biometric screening with your
physician, along with the Physician Screening
Form OR complete an on-site biometric screening at your facility.
Biometric screenings measure characteristics like height, weight, body mass index (BMI),
blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose. Dates
for on-site screenings will be posted at each
facility. Employees will not need to fast beforehand or have blood drawn. Instead, qualified
medical personnel with Health Solutions — one
of Onlife’s wellness partners — will use a finger
stick to get the necessary sample. The entire
process takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
After each screening, Health Solutions
professionals will conduct a private review
with each employee to explain the results and
address any health issues identified.
If employees opt to have a screening with
their physician, the Physician Screening Form
must be filled out and signed by the doctor, and
submitted to Onlife/Health Solutions by Oct. 31,
2014. The form is available on the MyCCA HR
Employee Benefits page and the Onlife website.
Screenings and health assessments completed anytime between April 1, 2014 and Oct.
31, 2014, are valid for completion of the 2014
wellness activities.
Employees are encouraged to get started on
these two steps as early as possible. n
For more information, contact Onlife Health at
www.OnlifeHealth.com or 877-709-0201, or talk to
your facility human resources manager or facility
wellness champion.
Winning the Battle for
Better Health
By Charlotte Higgins
“Something has to change.”
That’s the thought that ran through
Latasha Battle’s mind as she looked at the
results of a biometric screening at her facility last year. She felt as though her body
had a clear message for her.
“The biometric screening made me
come to terms with what my body was
telling me all along – lose some weight,”
said Battle, who works as the safety manager at CCA Coffee Correctional Facility
in Nicholls, Ga.
For Battle, that was a turning point.
In an effort to become more health-conscious, she volunteered to serve as her facility’s assistant wellness champion. Like CCA
employees across the company who hold
this voluntary role, she would be asked
to act as a role model for health and wellness, actively participate in facility wellness
activities and serve as a resource for staff
who want to learn more about wellness.
To motivate herself and co-workers to
make healthy changes in their lives, Battle
started a weight loss challenge with prizes
for the two individuals who lost the most
weight. Battle and a member of the Coffee
medical staff won the competition.
“Surprisingly enough, we both chose
treadmills as our prizes!” Battle exclaimed.
Coffee staff enjoyed the competition so
much, they requested another competition,
which is currently underway with 74 participants. In addition, groups of staff meet regularly to exercise at a nearby track and gym.
Although Battle said she is far from her
goal, she is proud to have lost more than
25 pounds to date.
“We are motivated, and life is good,”
she added. n
Right: (Pictured, from left) Correctional officer Quatassa Trotter’s daughter, Quatassa
Trotter, Shanchell Brewton, Antonio Sirmans (Coffee Wellness Champion), Latasha Battle (assistant Wellness Champion), Rudolph Porter, Sophia Sirmans, Linda Smith, Kayla
Davis, and a member of the community. Battle motivated herself and her co-workers to
make healthy changes in their lives, starting with a weight loss challenge with prizes for
the two individuals who lost the most weight.
CCA.com/InsideCCA
23
10 Burton Hills Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37215
San Diego, California
Hartsville, Tennessee
We’re proud to serve our government partners
through the ongoing construction of two
new state-of-the-art facilities.