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JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014
DETAILS: Tips for
conducting a clothed
SEARCH
Courage
In the face of danger,
Officer Ketchum
saves the day
Segregation
Best practices for maintaining
safety and security
McRae develops
a team approach to
Workplace
Safety
GET TO KNOW
BOBBY
SIMON II
CCA’s Employee of the Year
OUR PEOPLE  OUR COMMUNITY  OUR COMPANY
WWW.CCA.COM/INSIDECCA
insidecca.com
1
In this Issue
ON THE COVER
Senior Correctional Officer Bobby Simon
II was selected from more than 16,000
employees as CCA’s 2013 Employee of the
Year. Photo by Elijah Light.
CONTRIBUTORS
On page 18, read about Officer Robert Ketchum’s heroic act of bravery.
FEATURES
4 Providing a Helping Hand
Bobby Simon II, CCA’s 2013 Employee
of the Year
7 Everyone’s Job: Workplace Safety
A spotlight on success at McRae
Correctional Facility
12 Thinking Outside the Cell
CCA finds innovative ways to bring
helpful services to segregation units
14 New Construction Is Underway
Work has begun to construct CCA’s
new facility in Southern California
18 A Fugitive Ran,
but Ketchum Caught Him
A correctional officer’s act of courage
nets him a CCA award
COLUMNS
3 The President’s Desk
8 Field Photos
9 Facility Focus: Cimarron
10 Service Awards
Wally Prado reaches 30 years with CCA
16 I Am CCA: Jennifer Reap
A vocational instructor at Red Rock
Correctional Center is teaching
valuable skills to inmates in Eloy, Ariz.
19 LifeStyle: Distracted Driving
Things to consider next time you find
yourself behind the wheel
20 Applause
Adams County Correctional Center
and Citrus County Detention Facility
top the lists
21 Details: Clothed Search
Eleven tips to keep you safe
22 Our People
2
CCA.com/InsideCCA
Daniel Crandall
John Diffenderfer
James C. Dillard
Louise Grant
Damon Hininger
Elijah Light
DeAndra Mack
Mike Machak
Shermaine Nettles
Jenna Slocum
Stacey Sparrow
Mike Towle
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
Commending Our Best and Brightest
By Damon Hininger, CCA President and CEO
I
often express how proud I am of the work
our more than 16,000 employees do each
day. I’m proud of the CCA Way PRIDE you
embody in your various roles at work and
in your communities. I’d like to recognize one
person in particular who embodies PRIDE and is
a wonderful example to all of us: Bobby Simon II,
CCA’s 2013 Employee of the Year. You can learn
more about Bobby on the following page.
CCA’s companywide Employee of the Year
Award is just one of numerous ways we honor
our colleagues who do outstanding work. As
you know, many of our facilities also celebrate
staff accomplishments through annual, quarterly and monthly employee recognitions. On
a companywide level, we also have the Courage Award and, our newest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, which is set aside for
employees who display the highest degree of
professionalism in a particular situation.
I want to remind you that it’s the responsibility
of all supervisors — and employees at all levels
of the company — to nominate deserving colleagues for these special distinctions. If you’ve
ever been recognized as Employee of the Month,
Quarter or Year, you remember how it felt to
know your co-workers think so highly of you; it
can be both exciting and humbling. That should
never be lost on us. For all of us who are supervisors, it’s important to remember that employees
appreciate being appreciated. Nominating
someone for one of our special recognitions is
a great way to do that.
Remember, Courage Award and Distinguished
Service Award nominations are accepted all
year long. For information about award criteria
and submitting a nomination, you can contact
your facility human resources manager.
Our company is filled with talented, hardworking, exceptional people who are deeply
invested in their careers, their colleagues and
our company. Your drive, unfailing commitment, and willingness to surpass expectations
is what keeps us moving forward and makes us
stronger as a CCA team. Thank you for everything you do. I’m proud to start off another year
serving alongside you. n
“Your drive, unfailing commitment, and
willingness to surpass expectations is what keeps
us moving forward and makes us stronger...”
CCA.com/InsideCCA
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PROVIDING O
A HELPING
HAND
SCOUT’S HONOR
ur 2013 Employee of the Year, Bobby
Simon II, senior correctional officer
and special threat group (STG) coordinator at Metro-Davidson County Detention
Facility, was a Boy Scout from a young age into
his high school years. He exemplifies principles
of the Boy Scout’s Oath by helping when there
is a need, and doing his part to make the world
a better place.
Bobby Simon II,
CCA’s 2013 Employee of the Year
By Shermaine Nettles
“Boy Scouts developed my passion for helping
people at a young age,” he says. “I love making
a difference; it’s what motivates me.”
Throughout his upbringing, the Scout looked
up to his dad for guidance and inspiration.
“My dad is my greatest mentor; he taught me
what I needed to know to succeed,” Simon says.
“He reminded me to be caring and provide help
when there is a need.”
Simon has always called Nashville, Tenn., home.
He married his wife Meagan and started his
family in Music City. Before joining CCA, Simon
worked in food services as a catering manager
at a restaurant. Even though he was employed
at a restaurant, he had an interest in criminal justice. Simon left the catering industry and began
a career in corrections in December 2005 at
CCA’s Metro facility.
“I wanted to use my work experience at CCA
as a stepping stone to major in criminal justice, but I decided to stay with the company
after five years because I love it so much,” he
says. “There’s something about corrections
that appealed to me. I found it so interesting.”
Continued on the following page...
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CCA.com/InsideCCA
CCA.com/InsideCCA
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BOBBY SIMON, CONTINUED
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE
S
imon’s interest in corrections, paired with his excitement to aid others,
launched his promotion to senior correctional officer. In his role as security
C. Peterson
threat group coordinator, Simon was chosen by Charlie Peterson, CCA director, Security to lead training classes for new and existing STG coordinators. STG coordinators watch
a video educating them on the benefits of the system, and training them on how to use the system
successfully. Simon helped in the development of the training video and served as the spokesperson cast in the film.
“I really enjoyed sharing great information on the training video with STG coordinators all over CCA,”
he says. “I had an opportunity to teach others; it was a great experience.”
Simon offers assistance to new cadets by ensuring they have someone they can rely on and talk to.
After they graduate, Simon mentors them, addressing any concerns the cadets may have.
Aiding and training employees and STG coordinators is only a portion of what makes Simon proud
of his job.
“The best part of doing my job is getting the chance to talk to inmates in the facility,” he says. “It’s
rewarding to help people stay out of trouble by encouraging positive behavior.”
Simon also works with Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) members throughout Tennessee and the
United States to track gang activity and monitor trends among these groups.
“Being a part of JTTF allows me to stay in the loop of gang activity, which is an important part
of my job as STG coordinator,” he says. “I enjoy STG because I learn so many things, which
plays a big role in my overall success.”
INTEGRITY IN ACTION
S
imon says volunteering whenever there
is a need and displaying integrity gives
him pride in his job. He is motivated by
seeing others succeed.
“I am always the first to volunteer for tasks
because I love to learn,” he says. “If you practice
integrity daily, then professionalism, respect,
duty and excellence will shine through.”
Simon’s pride in his work shone through so
much that he was chosen as CCA’s Employee
of the Year. He reflected, with a sense of awe,
on the day he was awarded the honor.
Visit

CCA.com/InsideCCA
to watch a video interview
with Bobby Simon.
6
CCA.com/InsideCCA
“During the 3rd Quarter Town Hall, I was prepared to give a speech on STG investigations.
As I turned toward the camera to report my
findings, Damon Hininger and Steve Conry
started talking about Employee of the Year,”
he says. “I didn’t notice I received the award
until they mentioned me! I was in shock and
began to tear up a little bit. I still think about
that moment every time I pass our facility’s
conference room. It was such an honor.”
Simon’s family and coworkers were elated to
hear the news.
“I received nothing but praise from all my
friends and family,” he says. “My father sent a
mass email to everyone he works with, telling
them that I was named Employee of the Year.
Everyone was so proud of me.”
The Employee of the Year received many well
wishes and congratulations for a job well done.
Serving as CCA’s Employee of the Year is a
challenge the Nashville native embraces. He
advises upcoming correctional professionals
who are inspired by his story to never give up
and reach their goals by keeping their eye on
the prize.
“Receiving the honor of Employee of the Year
means that you have to remain at the standard
that got you there and continue to set good
examples that others can follow,” he says. “It’s
all about personal work ethic. You have to stay
positive and you have to aim for a goal and
achieve it.” n
Everyone’s Job: Workplace Safety
A spotlight on success at McRae |
By Tony Troiano
Thanks to a collaborative safety effort at McRae Correctional Facility in McRae, Ga., employees
and residents enjoy an environment where safety is a priority.
McRae, in mid-November of 2013, was approaching 600 days without an employee lost time accident. That’s impressive, considering that in 2012 the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational and
Safety and Health Administration’s reported 4.1 million workers suffered a job-related injury or
illness.
“It’s all about education and communication,” says McRae Safety Manager James Hill. “We place a
strong emphasis on safety and always seek ways to improve our message. We want everyone to
access our information. We have in-service training, flyers, signage, and PowerPoint presentations.”
Some authorities on workplace safety and health will tell you injuries are not due to “accidents” implying the culprit was just bad luck. No matter how you define it, being proactive is a smart move.
“We want our staff to know that anything can happen, so you have to think about avoidance,” says
McRae Safety Officer Sharita Harvey. “We are mindful that safety is everyone’s responsibility. For
instance, just because you didn’t make the spill doesn’t mean you shouldn’t clean it up. We help
keep each other safe.”
McRae’s safety program focuses on educating
employees about potential hazards and getting all employees to take responsibility for
ensuring the safety of the work environment.
A strong safety program like McRae’s can enhance the overall workings of any business or company.
There is reduced cost, higher productivity and employee pride. It is a strong motivational tool.
McRae strives for a complete buy-in to their safety program.
“Everyone, including the inmates, does their part, encouraging one another and helping each other
out,” says McRae Correctional Officer John Van Houten. “The residents tell us of problems and take
about as much pride in our success as we do. You might say we’re in this together.”
“We are quick to address all safety concerns,” Harvey says. “You have to feel secure in your work
environment. Come here safe and go home safe.” n
CCA.com/InsideCCA
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Field Photos
A Glance at Recent
Facility Happenings
1. Citrus County Detention Center
shared the message of “Your opinion matters” as the Engagement
Survey came to a close in October 2013. Citrus’ maintenance team
was “All Ears!”
2
2. Coffee Correctional Facility
celebrated an inmate graduation, which was the result of the
dedication of their staff, including Assistant Principal Heather
Thurston (pictured at far left) and Assistant Warden Andre Ford
(far right).
1
3. Crossroads Correctional Center
made Christmas brighter by partnering with Youth Dynamic Services to provide staff-bought gifts for children in need.
4. Davis Correctional Facility
hosted a graduation ceremony for 21 inmates who have earned
their General Educational Development (GED) diploma.
3
5. Florence Correctional Center
hosted a celebration in honor of having the highest number of
votes on CCA’s Facebook page.
6. Red Rock Correctional Center
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honored their veterans with a photo wall.
7. Tallahatchie Correctional Facility
received a visit from President and CEO Damon Hininger. During
the visit he took time out to talk with the medical team.
8. & 9. Whiteville Correctional Facility
adopted 17 children from Carl Perkins Child Abuse Prevention
and were able to meet every wish the children had on their list. (8)
Whiteville also hosted a Veteran’s Day luncheon in honor of their
team members who have and who currently serve. (9)
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Service Awards
30 YEARS
Wally Prado
As CCA’s longest tenured employee, Wally Prado celebrates 30 years of service at
Houston Processing Center in Houston, Texas. Wally was hired by CCA on Jan. 1,
1984. Today, he serves as an assistant shift supervisor and a role model
for his community.
20 YEARS
Laredo
Processing Center
Nevada Southern
Detention Center
South Central
Correctional Center
Webb County
Detention Center
Winn Correctional
Center
Winn Correctional
Center
Winn Correctional
Center
Susana Pena
Leeann Archuleta
Lawrence Maples
Jesus Rodriguez Jr.
Nicole Walker
Emily Davis
Carl Coleman
15 YEARS
10
Bartlett
State Jail
Bay Correctional
Facility
Bay Correctional
Facility
Diamondback
Facility Support
Center
Facility Support
Center
Central Arizona
Detention Center
Central Arizona
Detention Center
Kenneth Miller
Americus McAlpin
Terry Touchstone
Charles Cooper
Linda Vandever
Kimberly Fox
Michael McSperitt
Timothy Everett
Central Arizona
Detention Center
Central Arizona
Detention Center
Citrus County
Detention Facility
Coffee Correctional
Facility
Davis Correctional
Facility
Correctional
Treatment Facility
Correctional
Treatment Facility
Correctional
Treatment Facility
Edward Gomez
John Conley
Leyda Rivera
Patrice Moody
Michael Martin
Doreen Batts
Gloria Pryor
Daisy Graves
Eden Detention
Center
Elizabeth Detention
Center
Eloy Detention
Center
Eloy Detention
Center
Hardeman County
Correctional Center
Hardeman County
Correctional Center
La Palma
Lee Adjustment
Center
Cecil Pitcox
Emma Collins
John Bixler
Jason Amos
Sadie Braddock
Ladon Cates
Michael Ortega
David Frye
McRae Correctional
Facility
North Fork
North Fork
San Diego
South Central
Correctional Center
Tammy Daniel
Sharon Smith
Sandra Austin
Sandra Ford
John Mattingly
Rita Ayers
Connie Anderson
West Tennessee
Detention Facility
Whiteville
Whiteville
Winn Correctional
Center
Winn Correctional
Center
Vicky Wilson
Denice Richmond
Earl Taylor
Linda Whisenant
Glenda Wyatt
CCA.com/InsideCCA
North Fork
Saguaro Correctional
San Diego
Facility
Thomas Trick
10 YEARS
Bay Correctional Facility
Gabrielle Gomez Hulett
David Moghtaderi
April Knox
Bent County
Luke Holland
Louise Morales
Bradshaw State Jail
Tammy Prater
Nita Reece
Johnny Crenshaw
Yolandreia Oliver
LaShanna Wright
Diana Beck
Frederick Coleman
Tommie Collins
Kathy Cooley
Kenneth Elliott
Brenda Fletcher
Robert Glasper
Betty Henry
Carlis Hines
Neta Hinkle
Ella Freeny Hogg
Josephine Hudgins
Joyce Johnson
Louise King
Pamela Beth Krajewski
Sebrina Lewis
Barbara Loftis
Daniel Oller
Ethel Palmer
John Rockey
Reshonda Denise Roquemore
Charlie Soape
Peggy Taylor
Alvinia Wady
Alvin Woodall
Samuel Edward Simons
Adrian Alexander
California City
Correctional Center
Karen Christensen
Carmen Minter
Central Arizona
Detention Center
Shannon Clover
Dan Daniels
Coffee Correctional Facility
Julio Glover
James Johnson
Jonathan Work
Bobby Waters
Hardeman County
Correctional Center
Sarah Cassaday
Betty Cupples
Deanne Ryder Mills
Crossroads
Correctional Center
Charles Tothill
Houston
Processing Center
Monica Woodley
Carmen Jones
Kimberly Lewis
Lakeysha Johnson
Linda Simien
Crowley County
Linda Boykin
Jennifer Graham
Correctional
Treatment Facility
Tenika Coleman
Veronica Cooley
Jeannine Decuir
Charlita Gray
Dewjuan Medley
Thomasina Walker
Samuel Wells
Beverly Wilder
Diamondback
Vance Laughlin
Eden Detention Center
Robert Garcia
George Knight
Elizabeth Detention Center
Paul Rafalowski
Facility Support Center
Felicia Oldham
John Paul Wooden
Joanne Saxton
Kathleen Mazowieski
Florence
Correctional Center
Delia Gomez
Darnell Holton
Franks Madrid
Monica Ponce
Idaho Correctional Center
Graciela Reyna
Kit Carson
Correctional Center
Nicolet Davis
Robert Sparks Jr.
La Palma
Berneshia Robinson
Lee Adjustment Center
Ginger Sandy
Janet Terrill
Donald Hobbs
Lindsey State Jail
Danny House
Carol Beck
David Bennett
Pamela Bolton
James Coughran
Mervin Crawford.
Georgia Kilpatrick
Aldie McAnear
Rondal Minks
Vicki Nichols
Robert Peek III
Sherri Lorraine Petty
Danny Rhodes
Rita Sanders
Bentonia Sewell
Cynthia Tinney
Glenda Tinnon
Cathy Yancey
Joy Blackwood
Michele Whitsitt
Marion
Adjustment Center
Tania Pineiroa
McRae Correctional
Facility
Misty Brandon
Bradley Herndon
Thomas Heyer
Yolanda Mizell
Kevin Osburn
Kathy Gunn
Vickie Raffield
Christopher Wood
Roberta Jones
Metro-Davidson County
Detention Facility
Yesenia Bermudez
North Fork
Jessie Fox
Nancy Findlay
Nicole Renee Brown
Margaret Shorts
Northeast Ohio
Correctional Center
Linda Arrington
Edward Stephenson
Jonelle Austin
LaTosia Austin
Ryan Barringer
Lu-Shara Carter
Arthur Davis
Paul Grier Sr.
Jason Grigsby
Deborah Johnson
David Langenheim
Thomas McCarthy
Jennifer McDonagh
Jennifer McIntosh
Larry Means Jr.
Robert Mesol
Yolanda Payne
Richard Pecchia
Debra Shelton
Peggy Slabaugh
Arlegus Tate III
Deborah Tomlin
Michael Carter
Natalie Grant Askew
Red Rock
Jason Applegate
Andy Tapia
Saguaro
Nicholas Pastella
Roy Summerland
Susan Culbertson
Silverdale
Detention Facility
Melissa Burrow
Tallahatchie County
Mona McCollins
Webb County
Detention Center
Robert Martinez Jr.
West Tennessee
Detention Facility
Brandie Mayfield
Elnora Mabon
Wheeler Correctional Facility
Drawaski ONeal
Matthew Smith
Whiteville
John Parker
Joseph Shields
Willacy State Jail
Travis Berg
Ignacia Cantu Reyna
Ernestina Cantu
Rebecca Colchado
George Contreras
Jose Cruz
Alma Garcia
Remigio Garcia
Ricardo Gonzalez
Maria Gracia
Jacob Guerra
Maythe Guerra
Evangelina Gutierrez
Greselda Gutierrez
Ramiro Hernandez
Raul Hernandez
Aisha Lara
Luis Leyva
David Lozano
Erica Martinez
Francisco Montalvo
Miguel Moreno
Tiodoro Orozco
Pedro Perez
Yolanda Roa
Jose Rodriguez
Juan Rodriguez
Sotero Solis
Gloria Tamez
Jose Tamez
Maria Tijerina
Antonio Villa Jr.
Luis Naranjo
Lydia Villalobos
Winn Correctional Center
Timothy Keith
CCA.com/InsideCCA
11
CCA’s Winn Correctional Center holds weekly review hearings to assess and hear from all inmates
in segregation. The review panels consist of the entire classification team, including the unit
manager, chiefs and assistant wardens.
W
hen Chaplain Edward Lewis visits
the segregation unit at his facility
each Friday, he knows he's providing a needed service — one of the many services employees at Winn Correctional Center
bring to offenders housed in segregation.
"From the time I walk into the
unit, I feel that it's the guys' only
sense of hope for something
positive because as soon as I get
to the unit, I hear guys call out,
'Chaplain! Chaplain!,'" Lewis says.
E. Lewis
Lewis goes from one cell to the next to address
each offender's request — some of them ask
for religious materials, such as Bibles or Qurans,
while others simply want prayer or a listening ear.
Thinking
Outside
the Cell
CCA finds innovative ways to bring
helpful services to segregation units
By DeAndra Mack
12
CCA.com/InsideCCA
But as any corrections professional knows,
housing inmates in segregation poses unique
challenges, because they can't access care and
services in the same way as those in the general population — a reality Lewis understands
all too well.
"It becomes rather difficult for some of the guys,
because they can't go to the religious services
we hold in the facility," Lewis says. "I try to pray
with them as much as possible to keep their
faith intact."
Lewis knows the value and importance of making sure offenders in segregation maintain
access to care and services that help to prepare
them to someday re-enter society. And he's not
alone. Employees at CCA facilities across the
company have found innovative ways to bring
needed services to segregation.
SEGREGATION:
A LAST RESORT
While CCA places utmost importance on making sure offenders have access to services in
segregation, the bigger picture is a strategy
of using segregation only as a last resort —
an idea that's not new to the company or to
corrections.
"During my time at both the
Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)
and at CCA, we advocated using
segregation only for situations
that warrant the need to sepaH. Lappin
rate someone from the general
population," says Harley Lappin, CCA's chief
corrections officer and a former director at the
BOP. "There's been a concerted effort on the
part of corrections administrators across the
country — at CCA and elsewhere — to implement better practices and policies and reduce
the number of inmates in segregation."
Offenders are most often placed in segregation
for disciplinary purposes, alleged misconduct,
personal protection, or for the protection
of others. And in some cases, offenders are
moved to segregation while an investigation
is underway. Regardless of the circumstances,
making sure those offenders continue to have
access to needed services is a priority at CCA.
"For some inmates, segregation
is the last in a series of tools we
have available to help them
regain control of their escalating negative behavior. We
J. Baxter
realize those inmates have to
access services in a different way while in segregation," says John Baxter, CCA vice president,
Health Services. He adds, "CCA staff work diligently to avoid housing physically or mentally
ill persons in segregation. For the small number of physically or mentally ill individuals who
may be housed in a secure environment, we
recognize their potential difficulty in requesting services, so it's incumbent on staff to make
sure we monitor them even more closely than
we do when housed in general population."
STRATEGICALLY
SERVING
SEGREGATION
At Winn, employees have found a variety of
ways to bring programs and medical care to
offenders in segregation. It all starts with a
strong partnership between the facility's unit
teams and its Mental Health department.
"Our unit teams stay abreast of
what's going on with a particular
offender and if he acts out, they
communicate with the Mental
Health department and work
N. Walker
together as a team to find out
what the best approach is," says Nicole Walker,
assistant warden at Winn.
While in segregation, offenders who have
mental illnesses continue receiving special
care; Mental Health staff check in with them on
a weekly, monthly or quarterly basis, depending on the level of attention they need.
Chaplains, like Edward Lewis, play an
important role in ensuring the safety and
security of inmates in segregation.
"The unit teams know inmates very well, and
if an inmate misses his medication or if he's
asleep and supposed to be taking his medication, they remind him or wake him up," Walker
explains.
And to make sure no needs go unnoticed, the
facility holds weekly review hearings in which
the entire classification team, the unit manager, chiefs and assistant wardens meet with
each inmate in segregation and give them a
chance to express any concerns they may have.
Then the Mental Health team meets individually with those who express concerns.
Plus, Mental Health employees work with the
unit teams to deliver a variety of programs —
including classes on victim impact, anger management and self-control — in segregation.
And Winn is among many other CCA facilities
that provide in-cell programming.
"Segregation is one of the tools we use to
manage an offender population, and we don't
neglect anyone as a result of placing them in
segregation," Baxter says. "It's a tool we want
to use as seldom as possible — only when it
really is the last resort to address the problematic behavior of an individual." n

Share your facility’s best practices
for providing services to inmates in
segregation by submitting them to
your Operations managing director.
CCA.com/InsideCCA
13
New Construction
Is Underway
By Louise Grant
Otay Mesa to Replace San Diego
Building with Conservation in Mind
CCA is ‘under construction’ in California in an exciting opportunity to
replace a current facility. The 1,040-bed San Diego Correctional Facility
in Otay Mesa, Calif., which employs more than 300 staff, is property that
CCA leases from the County. In recent years, we were able to purchase
a large plot of land just down the street from our facility. In November
2013, we broke ground on what will be named the Otay Mesa Detention
Center.
CCA is committed to being a good steward of the environment. Our Otay Mesa Detention Center will be a leading
example of our emphasis on conservation. In partnership
with our architects, engineers and contractors, we are
building a contemporary detention structure utilizing
state-of-the-art green features and energy-conservation
resources. The project will be LEED (Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design) certified, meaning the design
will be eco-friendly. Construction projects, like this one,
will achieve minimal environmental impact through the
use of sustainable building practices.
The first phase of construction includes a 1,492-bed facility, due for completion in July 2015. Should government partner needs increase over time,
the property size is large enough to enable CCA to build additional beds.
14
CCA.com/InsideCCA
Facility Focus
Cimarron Correctional Facility
Cushing, Oklahoma
L
By Stacey Sparrow
ocated in Cushing, Okla., Cimarron Correctional Facility is just a mile west of one of the United States’ largest
oil tank farms. Noted as the “Pipeline Crossroads of the
World,” Cushing is the repository of approximately 10 percent of
the U.S. crude oil inventory.
Special Olympics, the community’s annual barbeque and blues
festival, Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program and Love INC.
Cimarron inmates also embrace community involvement by
donating birdhouses for auction to the Cushing Hospital Foundation. n
Cimarron is a 1,720-bed facility under contract with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Approximately 300 corrections
professionals, led by Warden Chad Miller, oversee the facility’s
medium and maximum security, male population.
“We are more than just a group of employees; we are a family,”
Miller says. “To be a family, you have to know one another and
be transparent. We talk about decisions being made and provide
opportunities for feedback.”
One way the Cimarron team acknowledges each other is by
placing special certificates on the wall of the entry hall. Each
certificate reflects how a certain employee embodies the CCA
Way values.
Cimarron spends a lot of time giving back to the Cushing community. Many of the team members support the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life as so many of the team have been
impacted by cancer. In 2013, the Cimarron family raised $5,300
for the event. Employees also participate in local efforts like the
Photo courtesy of Stefanie Ryker, medical records coordinator at Cimarron
Correctional Facility.
Correctional Counselor Winingear exemplifies
PRIDE and is a role model to new recruits at
Cimarron Correctional Facility.
CCA.com/InsideCCA
15
I Am CCA
Meet Jennifer Reap |
By Lindsay Williams
Vocational Instructor
Red Rock Correctional Center
Eloy, Arizona
J
ennifer Reap can likely always be found in one of two
places: the greenhouse or the ball field. Her 16-year-old
son plays baseball, and when she’s not cheering him on
from the sidelines, you’ll find her outdoors gardening, golfing,
hiking or playing tennis. She and her son recently returned from
a vacation to northern California to visit her mother where they
spent the entire week working in her backyard, a place full of
fond memories for the horticulture instructor.
“My whole life I’ve been growing plants,” she reflects. “My mom
has a green thumb. I would call her a hippie, but she’s not. We
had a couple greenhouses when I was little. At one time, we actually grew a lot of the food we ate.”
Reap is a vocational instructor at Red Rock Correctional Center
16
CCA.com/InsideCCA
in Eloy, Ariz., where she teaches horticulture classes. Red Rock
houses a greenhouse that includes a vegetable garden, a flower
garden and a compost area. Reap teaches two three-hour classes
each day to an average of 16 inmates per class. Her course lasts
between five and six months, where she teaches the basics of
gardening and landscaping.
“It takes a minute for them to get interested, to be honest,
because they’re thinking, ‘Come on, my mom gardens,’” she
shares. “But in no time, they start seeing this plant grow, and they
take care of it like their own kids. You would just be shocked at
the detail and care they put into their own plants.”
The greenhouse provides a place of respite from her students’
normal surroundings. “You’re in this prison with barbed wire and
fences everywhere,” she explains, “and then you come outside
the back Programs door, and you’ve got a huge bougainvillea,
and you’ve got flowers and peppers and tomatoes and they’re
going, ‘Oh my gosh, where am I?’”
The greenhouse has become a place of comfort and safety for
Reap’s students, who often wander over to talk to her, sharing
personal details about their lives beyond the prison walls. “I think
they see me, and they’re like, ‘Oh, it’s mom,’” she says. “They talk
about their family, their relationships, their mothers, their grandmothers, you name it.”
In one instance, a student shared with her that his mother was
coming to visit. Her student wanted to bring his flower to his
mom. Though facility regulations wouldn’t allow her student to
take the flower with him, Jennifer was able to get permission to
deliver it herself. “You should’ve seen that mom,” she recalls. “I
brought a little hibiscus up, and it was really, really sweet. This
mom looked at her son like, ‘Oh my gosh, you garden?’ They see
their kids having been down this particular path, and they don’t
picture that path containing anything that has to do with gardening. It is pretty fun to get to meet their families and say, ‘Your
son does a good job back there. He works hard.’ That makes me
pretty excited.”
Whether tending to her son, her plants or her students, at the end
of the day, her desire remains the same: to make a difference. “I
have a lot of guys say, ‘Ms. Reap, I think maybe I could do something different,’” she says. “And I’ll say, ‘Yes, you can do something different. This is not a long-term choice of lifestyle.’ It helps
these men focus on something other than being an inmate.”
What I Want To Be When I Grow Up
Reap initially began her career in corrections as a correctional
officer. With no former experience, she says the job was daunting
and intimidating. She eventually channeled her anxiety into helping new recruits. “I didn’t have any experience, so during my first
couple of months, I felt like I had two left feet,” she admits. “I really
took that to heart when they opened the mentorship program.
I wanted to be one of those people who helped those new COs
come onto the floor so that they felt like they had somebody to
talk to, somebody to ask the silly questions.”
While she enjoyed working in Security, a trip to New Orleans
for her sister’s college graduation became a turning point in
her career. During a conversation with her stepfather, she was
reminded of a time in her younger life when she wanted a career
that really changed people’s lives.
When she returned home, she discovered a posting for an open
horticulture position, which meant a move from Security to Programs and an opportunity to combine her love of gardening
with her passion for helping people. “I, by far, have the greatest
job in the facility. The longer I’m in it, the more I realize I am
giving my students tools to do something once they get out,”
she says. “If you want a career and not just a job, CCA is where
you want to be.” n
CCA.com/InsideCCA
17
A Fugitive Ran, but Ketchum Caught Him |
By Mike Towle
A correctional officer’s act of courage nets him a CCA award
W
hat started out as a routine stop at
a grocery store on an August afternoon in 2013 turned into a wild
adventure for La Palma Correctional Center
Correctional Officer Robert Ketchum III.
Ketchum, who has worked at the Eloy, Ariz.
facility since June 2011, was in the checkout
line at a nearby Fry’s supermarket, a six-pack of
soda in his hand, when a man in his 20s came
running in through the front door chased by
two men yelling for assistance.
Gabriel E. Leon, a fugitive wanted for a felony
probation violation and prior armed robbery,
had wrecked his car against a light pole in the
parking lot and now was trying to evade capture on foot.
Seeing this, Ketchum’s law-and-order instincts
kicked in. He put down the soda and took off
after Leon, sprinting out the front door while
Leon bolted through a side emergency exit.
Ketchum led the chase down a street and into a
residential backyard, eventually catching Leon
with the two other men in close pursuit, both
civilians, arriving to help subdue the fugitive.
Ketchum cuffed Leon, then escorted him to a
waiting sheriff’s vehicle.
For their tandem act of bravery in apprehending the fugitive, Ketchum, Nick Schmidt and
Dalton Whitaker were honored by the Pinal
County Sheriff’s Department. More recently,
Ketchum, a 36-year-old father of two girls,
eight and 10, was one of two CCA employees
awarded our 2013 CCA Courage Award.
The company-wide honor recognizes employees who, according to the nominating process,
Chief Michael Ortega, Ketchum’s supervisor at
La Palma. “If you ask him to do something, he’ll
get it done.”
James Warwick, a correctional
officer at Davis Correctional
Facility in Oklahoma, also
received a 2013 CCA Courage
Award. Responding to a housing unit disturbance involving several inmates, Warwick
sustained injuries while defending a medical
staff person and an inmate from an attack by
a second inmate using a handmade weapon.
“... he was running full speed,
and nobody does that in a store.”
“shall have displayed courage in the face of
danger while saving or attempting to save
the life of another person, or by acting under
extreme stress to maintain or restore the safety
and security of an area.”
“One thing about Robert, he’s a go-getter,” says
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CCA.com/InsideCCA
Five CCA employees received CCA’s 2013
Distinguished Service Awards for displaying
the highest degree of professionalism: John
Cebulski, unit manager at Bent County Correctional Facility in Colorado.; Tiffaney Beasley,
grievance coordinator at Bradshaw State Jail
in Texas.; Michael Sizemore, assistant warden at
Bradshaw State Jail in Texas.; Ricky Steverson,
maintenance officer at McRae Correctional
Facility in Georgia.; and Vanessa Villa, correctional counselor at Central Arizona Detention
Center in Arizona.
Before arriving at La Palma, Ketchum served
five years as a hospital public safety officer in
Long Beach, Calif., where he was no stranger to
crisis situations. He once had to maintain order
in a chaotic trauma unit as two police officers,
shot by gang members, were surrounded by
more than 10 other officers clamoring to see
their fallen peers.
LifeStyle
Distracted Driving |
“When the fugitive came into the store, he was
running full speed, and nobody does that in a
store,” Ketchum says of the August incident. “So
I took off running toward him and passed the
other two guys and eventually got close and
was ready to tackle him. That’s when he turned
with Taser in hand and said, ‘Stay away. I have
a Taser, and I will Taser you.’
“I slowed down and reassessed the situation
and then started paralleling him from the side,
about 10 yards away. I kept telling him to get
on the ground.”
Ketchum and the other two men followed Leon
through a gate into a walled backyard in a residential neighborhood. There, one of the other
men confronted Leon with a rake, knocking
him to the ground, and the three were able to
apprehend him.
T
By Shermaine Nettles
he monotony of our daily travels can lead our minds to wander, not allowing total focus
to be on the road ahead. Safe driving means having a clear mind and two hands firmly
on the wheel.
According to a 2012 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study, “Use of an electronic
device while driving can distract drivers from appropriately thinking about the driving task, watching the road and surrounding environment and keeping their hands on the steering wheel.”
Watching your surroundings and paying attention to other drivers are just a couple of ways to
stay safe on the road. When we stay attentive, steer the wheel with both hands, and properly
prepare, the chances of arriving at our destination safely increases substantially.
Consider these safe driving tips the next time you’re on the road:
Being prepared for inclement weather conditions allows drivers the opportunity to
be informed about traffic delays and travel highways with caution. Duane Drogitis,
the safety manager at Crossroads Correctional Facility lives in an environment
prone to icy roads and wintry weather. “When the weather is rainy and windy, do not
use cruise control,” he says.” The same goes for icy and winding roads — it’s unsafe.”
“I’m just glad nothing happened to Robert if
this hadn’t worked out right,” Chief Ortega says.
“Once word got around back here at the facility,
everyone got pretty excited for him, shaking his
hand and offering him comments like, ‘Better
you than me.’”
Eating while driving is riskier than talking/listening to a handheld device, according
to the NHTSA. After reviewing a 2006 crash-risk analysis, NHTSA found that both
eating while driving and talking/listening to a handheld device while driving greatly
increased the odds of a crash. Instead of eating your favorite fast food while driving,
try pulling into the restaurant’s parking lot and eating there. Doing this may lessen
the temptation to eat and drive.
“When it was over, I couldn’t believe what had
just happened,” says Ketchum, a U.S. Coast
Guard Reservist who played running back and
wide receiver for his high school football team.
“But I work in a prison and have been in public
safety and in the military, so I had been trained
to stay calm even when the adrenaline kicks in.
Stocking your car with emergency equipment can be highly beneficial to you and
your family’s safety. CCA Director of Safety Sheryl Richardson says, “It is important to
always have a first-aid kit and other emergency equipment stored in your vehicle just
in case you are stuck in an area where you cannot get immediate help.”
“My daughters have used the word ‘hero’ with
me, but the way I see it, I just did what was
needed at the time.” n
References: “Distracted Driving | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | Texting and
Driving.” Distracted Driving | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | Texting and
Driving. www.distraction.gov/ n
Go to

CCA.com/InsideCCA
to read about CCA’s other
Courage Award winner and
Distinguished Service Award
winners.
CCA.com/InsideCCA
19
timeline
Kerr Fam
December 19, 2013
For Christmas this year, a friend of mine and
I along with the help of many donations from
friends and family, delivered 57 packages to the
women and men of our local nursing home here in
Cordell, OK. My husband (in photo) is Trever Kerr,
your manager of Operations and Finance at North
Fork Correctional Facility in Sayre, OK. He helped
deliver the presents and assisted this woman,
June, in opening it as her arthritis made it difficult
to open the present. We were truly blessed by
these folks and the joy they had upon receiving
their packages and we look forward to another
Silver Santa Project next year!
Applause
ACA Accreditation
Congratulations to the following facilities for recently being recommended for
accreditation by the American Correctional Association and for their high audit
scores:
Facility
Adams County Correctional Center
Cimarron Correctional Facility
Central Arizona Detention Center
San Diego Correctional Facility
ACA Score
100%
99.77%
98.3%
97.83%
Tracking Team Safety
The following facilities have gone more than a year without a lost-time accident
(as of press time):
Facility
Citrus County Detention Facility
Date of Last
Lost-Time Accident
July 11, 2012
Laredo Processing Center
Sept. 13, 2012
Leavenworth Detention Center
Nov. 15, 2012
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20 people like this.
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Corrections Corporation of America
December 5, 2013
We’re in the holiday spirit, and our hearts are full
of PRIDE. Thanks CCA McRae for celebrating the
season the CCA Way.
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53 people like this.
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Facebook.com/CorrectionsCorp
20
20
insidecca.com
insidecca.com
Detention Officer Noel Deperio
at CCA’s San Diego Correctional Facility
Details
Clothed Search
8
By Elijah Light
T
he safety and security of our
facilities centers around the
people within our gates.
At all times, we seek to eliminate
threats. One way that we do this
is by performing routine searches
of inmates and detainees. These
searches strengthen our security
and increase safety for our communities, our staff and those in our
care. Such searches must always
be conducted with careful adherence to CCA policies. Here are a
few things to keep in mind when
conducting a clothed search. n
9
2
1
12
5
10
11
3
4
1. Use the “crush and feel” method when inspecting clothing — don’t slide
hands over the clothing, as doing so increases the risk of pokes, cuts and
other potential injuries.
2. Remain attentive to the posture and demeanor of the inmate.
3. Waistbands should be shaken.
4. Check shoes for false heels, removable soles and altered tongues.
5. Confirm that the property possessed by the inmate is in accordance with
the facility rule book.
6. Check socks and bandages for abnormalities.
7. Check prosthetics and other medical devices to ensure that they are in
proper working order and have not been subject to tampering.
7
8. Inspect hair, asking the inmate to manipulate their hair as necessary to
perform a thorough search.
9. Check inside the ears and mouth, including under the tongue.
10.Make sure that the inmate is dressed in authorized attire that conforms
to facility policies
11.Wear gloves (and other protective equipment, as needed) to protect
yourself from injury and illness.
6
12.At all times, remain professional and respectful, following CCA policies.
CCA.com/InsideCCA
21
Our People
GEORGIA
TENNESSEE
Harrell Gray has transferred to Stewart Detention Center as assistant warden. Gray joined
CCA in 1997 as a correctional officer at Wilkinson County Correctional Facility, where he also
served as senior correctional officer, assistant
shift supervisor, shift supervisor, unit manager
and chief of security before going to Hardeman County Correctional Facility as assistant chief of security. Gray later became
assistant facility administrator at the Shelby Training Center/Tall
Trees facilities. He transferred to T. Don Hutto Residential Center as assistant facility administrator and later became assistant
warden at the Marion Adjustment Center. Before joining CCA,
Gray worked as a correctional officer at Louisiana State Penitentiary and a corrections deputy sheriff at Orleans Parish Prison. He
served for three years in the U.S. Army.
Rhonda Allen has transferred to Coffee Correctional Facility as chief of security. Allen joined
CCA in 1999 as a correctional officer at Leavenworth Detention Center where she also served
as assistant shift supervisor, grievance officer,
disciplinary hearing officer, segregation supervisor, unit manager, shift supervisor and chief of security. Allen
transferred to the Otter Creek Correctional Center as chief of
security and later served in the same role at two facilities: Bridgeport Pre-Parole Transfer Facility and Dawson State Jail.
IDAHO
Brandon Delaney has been promoted to chief
of unit management at Idaho Correctional
Center. Delaney joined CCA in 2003 as a correctional officer at Idaho, where he has also served
as case manager and unit manager. He served
for 10 years on SORT and spent three years as
FACILITY SUPPORT CENTER
James C. Dillard has been named director,
Communications. Dillard brings eight years
of communications experience with the U.S.
Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI)
where he served as public affairs officer and
deputy chief. In this role, he was responsible
for managing OSI’s magazine, website, social media and media
relations. Prior to that, he served for four years as a public affairs
Airman in the U.S. Air Force. Dillard holds a bachelor’s degree in
English.
a commander.
KANSAS
Daniel Akers has been named assistant warden
at Leavenworth Detention Center. Akers joined
CCA in 1994 as quality assurance manager at the
Otter Creek Correctional Center, where he later
became unit manager. Akers was promoted
to chief of security at Lee Adjustment Center
before becoming assistant warden at the Marion Adjustment
Center, where he later served as warden. Before joining CCA,
Akers spent three years at Pike County Detention Center and two
years at the Pike County Sherriff’s Department.
OKLAHOMA
Esther Villa-Williams has been promoted to
assistant warden at North Fork Correctional
Facility. Villa-Williams joined CCA in 2001 as
an administrative clerk at California City Correctional Center, where she also served as unit
secretary, correctional counselor, case manager
and unit manager. She was promoted to chief of unit management at Northeast Ohio Correctional Center and served in the
same role at La Palma Correctional Center.
22
CCA.com/InsideCCA
Amanda Lester has been named director,
Financial Planning and Analysis. Lester joined
CCA in 2002 as a financial analyst at TransCor.
She was promoted to facility accounting manager at the Facility Support Center, where she
has also served as corporate accountant and
director, Proposal Development.
Lucibeth Mayberry has been promoted to
senior vice president, Real Estate. Mayberry
joined CCA in 2003 as senior director, State Partnership Relations and has also served as managing director, State Partnership Relations; vice
president, Research, Contracts and Proposals;
and vice president and deputy chief development officer. Before
joining CCA, Mayberry served as a senior associate of the Taxation
and Estate Planning Practice Group at the Nashville-based law
firm Stokes, Bartholomew, Evans and Petree. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, a juris doctor from
Vanderbilt University, and a master’s degree in laws in taxation
from the University of Florida.
Our People
FACILITY SUPPORT CENTER, CONTINUED
Alex Sherling has been named senior director,
Contract Pricing and Valuation. Sherling most
recently served as director, Finance for Mexico
at AutoZone, where he was responsible for strategic and financial planning for the Mexico business as well as new store development research
and financial modeling. Sherling has also held leadership positions at Church, Devoe & Associates and the Saint Augustine
Language Institute in Trujillo, Peru. Prior to that, he was a senior
auditor at Ernest & Young. Sherling holds an international master’s degree in business administration from the Moore School of
Business in South Carolina, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees
in accounting from the University of Mississippi.
Kim White has been promoted to senior vice
president, Human Resources. White joined CCA
in 2012 as managing director, Inmate Programs
and has also served as vice president, Correctional Programs. White has 27 years of corrections experience with the Federal Bureau of
Prisons where she held a variety of operational roles in the areas
of Institutional Operations, Staffing and Inmate Programs. During
her time with the BOP, White was a warden and regional director
and more recently served as assistant director, Human Resource
Management Division, where she had oversight for the hiring,
training and retention of the Bureau’s 38,000 employees. n
DISCOVER
THE NEW
CCA.COM
FEATURING THE ONLINE HOME OF INSIDECCA — plus —
NEWS, FACILITY PROFILES, CAREER INFO, AND MORE!
CCA.com/InsideCCA
23
2014 Open Enrollment: Action is Required!
Choose
or Lose
Your Benefits Coverage for 2014
WHAT IS REQUIRED TO CONTINUE MY COVERAGE?
During Open Enrollment, ALL employees must CHOOSE their medical, dental and vision
coverage or they will LOSE existing coverage in these plans effective April 1, 2014. *
WHEN IS THE 2014 OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD?
Monday, January 20, 2014, to Friday, February 14, 2014
HOW DO I ENROLL DURING THE 4-WEEK ENROLLMENT PERIOD?
Online: www.myccabenefits.com
Benefits Call Center: 1-877-725-2465
HOW DO I GET MORE INFORMATION?
Attend an Open Enrollment meeting where you will receive additional information from
your HR Manager about the benefit plans available and changes for the 2014 plan year.
*If you experience a qualified life event during the plan year, you may be permitted to make changes to your
coverage, consistent with your life event. See your HR Manager for more information regarding mid-year changes.
COMPLETE YOUR ENROLLMENT BY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014
TO BE ENTERED IN A DRAWING TO WIN AN IPAD® MINI!