Community Correction - Part Two
SHADOWING - Warden Millicent Newton-Embry
Someone You Should Know - Jimmy Lane
Director's Comments
I recently attended a National Institute of Corrections meeting to formulate
a Keystone Group for a concept called the Norval Morris project. The project
was created not only to honor the late Norval Morris but to also provide
vision for the future of corrections in a manner consistent with Mr. Morris.
You will be hearing much more on this project as it will become a national
topic of interest as the vision that will be created and the supporting goals
and action steps are publicized.
Mr. Morris was the Dean of the University of Chicago Law School. He published
15 books and was considered an international expert on criminal justice as
he had worked in Sri Lanka, Australia, England and consulted in many other
venues.
He was certainly as they say, “a man before his time,” and to
give you an example of this I have provided the following excerpt from one
of his writings.
“The Politics of Imprisonment - A major impediment to reducing the
use of imprisonment in the United States, and to bring its imposition into
accord with that of other developed countries, lies in its having become,
over the last two decades, the plaything of politics. Being ‘tough
on crime’ has become a necessary precondition of election to political
office and of the retention of incumbency.
Efforts at social reform in the early 1960’s have been unjustly maligned,
and the public has been misled by a series of political platforms that make
unreal promises of effective crime reduction by means of increased severity
of punishment, by capital punishment, by the lengthening of prison terms,
and by false assurances that condign incarcerative punishment will be imposed
on all criminals…
I am far more skilled at retrospection than prediction; lacking a safety
net, I shall not hazard a guess as to when our political masters will acknowledge
that vote gathering by these mendacious means is a sin against the future…it
is political irresponsibility that has generated the cancerous growth of
imprisonment. The one potential break in this depressing pattern is at the
state level, where an increasing number of governors and legislators face
daunting financial dilemmas. Prisons are built but cannot be opened for lack
of funds to run them. Educational budgets are cut to find dollars for prisons.
Perhaps the choice between schools and prisons will force a break in the
political rhetoric favoring incarceration.” (Morris, N., (1995) “The
Contemporary Prison” in N. Morris and D. Rothman (Eds.) The Oxford
History of the Prison, Oxford University Press, Oxford).
This brief quote is timely as we will soon be presenting our FY 2010 budget
which includes another projected net growth of offenders, costs associated
with an aging population, increased energy costs, higher staffing levels,
pay raises, and all the other necessities required to run a constitutional
sound, efficient and effective system.
AUGUST 14, 2008
The Correctional Training Academy in Wilburton hosted a graduation ceremony
on August 14, 2008, for Correctional Officer Cadet Class W070708. The 53
cadets in this class successfully completed the required 240 hours of pre-service
instruction. Eighteen different facilities ranging in security level from
maximum security to community security had students in W070708.
The staff of the Correctional Training Academy in Wilburton would like to
commend the Class of W070708 on a job well done and wish them the best of
luck in their careers with the Department of Corrections.
AWARD RECIPIENTS
ELIZABETH LEWIS
Joseph Harp Correctional Center
Class Speaker
JOSHUA MYERS
Oklahoma State Reformatory
Class Speaker
MICHAEL DAVIS
Oklahoma State Reformatory
Outstanding Performance
JOHNATHAN TRANTHAM
Howard McLeod Correctional Center
Outstanding Performance
MARCUS BULLER
James Crabtree Correctional Center
Academic
DIANNA SCHAFFER
Bill Johnson Correctional Center
Academic
Habilitation Center Program at Joseph Harp Correctional Center (JHCC)
by Dr. Linda Evans
The Habilitation Center Program (HCP) at JHCC is a beehive of activity these
days. Offenders are making handmade patchwork quilts and crocheting hats
and scarves for the City Rescue Mission in Oklahoma City. What a big change
this is for these men. Previous to incarceration, many of these same individuals
lived at various homeless shelters in their respective communities. Now
they are reaching out and helping others in need.
The HCP was founded in 1995. This program addresses the special needs of
developmentally delayed offenders who have been sentenced to the Oklahoma
Department of Corrections. Most of the developmentally delayed offenders
in this program also have co-occurring mental health disorders. Currently
there are 67 offenders enrolled in the program as participants and three
who are non-program participants i.e., they meet some but not all of the
requirements for admission to the program.
Programs at HCP are customized to meet the special needs of these men. Most
of the programs address their criminal behavior, such as substance abuse
or pro-social decision making, or are designed to improve their academic
skills. However, considerable time is also spent in helping them and/or improving
their vocational competence. In the world outside of prison, many of these
men would be participants in a “sheltered workshop” setting.
In a sheltered workshop, developmentally delayed individuals work with job
coaches and occupational therapists. They report to work each day and work
a limited number of hours. Not only is the sheltered workshop a job; it is
a vehicle for increasing self esteem and a sense of accomplishment.
While incarcerated, developmentally delayed individuals may have difficulty
finding employment through one of the more traditional prison job assignments.
The HCP and unit staff are often hard pressed to find them jobs they have
the skills to do. At times, their jobs often appear to be “made-up” work.
It was out of this need to develop vocational skills that the present program
to help the homeless was born.
During the summer of 2007, Dr. Mark Englander, HCP Director, saw a story
on television concerning the City Rescue Mission in Oklahoma City. He visited
the mission and talked with staff. They indicated there was always a shortage
of blankets and cold weather gear was always in demand. Dr. Englander came
up with the great idea that HCP offenders could make blankets and crochet
hats and scarves. He ran the idea by Paul Daugherty, HCP Recreational Therapist,
and they discussed how they could proceed using the building resources HCP
currently has. Now that a project had been decided on, HCP staff had to decide
how to obtain materials needed without spending the money! Always a challenge,
but not necessarily an insurmountable one if one is determined enough!
I visited with the staff of Habitat for Humanity in Stillwater and told them
what was proposed. Habitat for Humanity began to donate materials. There
were several offenders from the general population who had worked in the
tailoring field prior to coming to prison and volunteered to teach offenders
how to make the blankets and put them together. I was also able to purchase
yarn cheaply from Habitat for Humanity the offenders could use to crochet.
Again, offenders stepped forward and agreed to teach the HCP participants
how to crochet.
The result? As of this writing, HCP has donated five hand-stitched quilts
and dozens of hats, scarves, crocheted purses, gloves, and teddy bears to
the City Rescue Mission and to children’s hospitals in the Oklahoma
City area. The offenders are learning to report to work, create a finished
product, and to help others. Self-esteem is greatly improved as a nice by-product.
The cost to DOC? Absolutely nothing. The benefits to the offenders and the
folks at the City Rescue Mission? Priceless!
by Nancy McGee
Dr. Jaime Burns, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, at East Central
University was the recipient for the Outstanding Service Learning Award.
East Central University has been making great strides in terms of incorporating
service learning (or community learning) into its curriculum. Last year there
were multiple classes in various academic disciplines that incorporated the
service learning initiative. The service learning committee assessed the
classes and selected one class that embodied what service learning is all
about. The committee selected the Inside Out Prison Exchange Program taught
by Dr. Burns through ECU at Lexington Correctional Center. The first class
was taught at LCC in the fall of 2007, the second class will begin August
2008.
In addition to the Outstanding Service Learning Award, Dr. Burns also received
a $500 grant through Oklahoma Campus Compact. The grant was based on incorporating
service learning into classes. Only 10 individuals received the grant in
the state of Oklahoma. The money will be used to help pay for supplies and
an assistant for the class.
Community Corrections - Part Two
Assistant Deputy Director
Kenny Holloway received his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology
from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1978 and attended graduate
school at Louisiana State University. He was employed in vocational assessment
and evaluation prior to his employment with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
During his 22 year tenure with corrections, Mr. Holloway has served as a
correctional case manager and a probation and parole officer before accepting
various positions in management. During his service as a probation and parole
officer specializing in sex offender supervision, he assisted in a joint
collaborative effort of criminal justice professionals in developing the
basis for sex offender registration in Oklahoma. Mr. Holloway served seven
years as the district supervisor for the Oklahoma City area of probation
and parole. He has served as the classification coordinator for the Division
of Community Corrections where he was responsible for ACA accreditation,
policies and procedures, offender classification and information technology
programs implementation. Mr. Holloway is a subject matter instructor for
the agency in the areas of offender supervision and information technology.
In 2006, Mr. Holloway was appointed to the position of assistant deputy director
of the Division of Community Corrections where his responsibilities include
functional oversight of probation and parole operations. Mr. Holloway has
been tasked with full implementation of the application of evidence based
practices in probation and parole operations. Included in his responsibilities
is the development of supervision guidelines, statistical reporting, and
continued training opportunities focused on moving field staff from philosophical
discussion to actual application of the principles and practices in on-going
supervision activities.
Kenny and his wife, Cynde, reside in Oklahoma City and have one son, Jeffrey.
Kenny serves on the Board of Directors for Special CARE, Inc., and the Edmond
Association of Retarded Citizens.
Kenny is the immediate past President of the Oklahoma Correctional Association,
serves as a Governor-appointed member of the Governor’s Interagency
Council on Homelessness, and is an appointed board member of the Child Abuse
Training and Coordination Council.
Probation and Parole
The most poorly documented major segment of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections
is Probation and Parole. As per a 1943 statute, “The Governor is
hereby authorized to appoint a Pardon and Parole Board of five members.” And
in 1968, the Oklahoma State Legislature created the Division of Probation
and Parole. Little reference, however, to parole is found until the 1968
creation of the Division of Probation and Parole. Lack of documentation
appears to be due to the fact that there simply was little to report.
In a 1912 Commissioner of Charities and Corrections annual report, Commissioner
Kate Barnard claimed that the passage of a state parole system was critical
to the success of the reformatory (OSR) because some people took longer to
train than others and release under supervision was necessary to help the
ex-convict to adjust to freedom. Barnard failed in her attempt to get the
parole system passed.
After election to the post of Commissioner of Charities and Corrections in
1922, Mabel Bassett submitted penal reform recommendations to the Legislature.
One of the recommendations was the authorization of probation services.
Prior to the Corrections Act of 1967, only parole services were offered on
a statewide basis under the direction of the Commissioner of Charities and
Corrections. W.J. “Tex” Byum was the first deputy director. He
divided the State into districts based on county boundaries and equally divided
FTE (a.k.a. full time employee) according to caseloads and budget demands.
Tex managed the division with a low profile and did what was necessary to
get the Division off to a grand start with support of all criminal justice
agencies.
Justin Jones became the tenth deputy director over probation and parole on
May 18, 1987.
The Division of Probation and Parole dissolved in 1991 under a departmental
reorganization. The DOC began utilization of a regional structure with each
district office being supervised by a regional director. However, in 1996,
the DOC once again reorganized. A Division of Probation and Parole/Community
Corrections was created with Kathy Waters serving as deputy director. This
Division was structured similarly to the previous Division of Probation except
Community Corrections Centers and Community Work Centers were also added
and placed under supervision of various district supervisors.
January, 2001, brought Justin Jones back into the leadership of the Division.
Mr. Jones brought a wealth of experience in all areas of community corrections.
The division once again incurred a name change and became known as simply
the Division of Community Corrections. The geographical boundaries of all
districts were evaluated and realigned based upon offender populations and
district staffing. When the realignment was completed, the districts were
designated under new titles which more aptly reflected their mission, structure,
and location.
Reginald Hines was named deputy director in 2005, upon Justin Jones being
named as director.
The Division of Community Corrections is comprised of seven community corrections
centers, housing over 1,100 offenders; fifteen community work centers, housing
over 1,000 offenders; fifteen community work centers, housing over 1,000
offenders; and seven probation and parole districts. There are over 27,000
probationers and 4,000 parolees under the custody of the Oklahoma Department
of Corrections. The Division also has oversight responsibilities for nine
halfway houses, providing reentry services to
over 1,200 offenders.
C. Wayne Smith began his career with the Department of Corrections in Sapulpa,
OK, as a probation and parole officer in 1978. In 1984, he was promoted to
team supervisor in District I covering the Western portion of the District.
In 1987, Mr. Smith was promoted to assistant district supervisor in Tulsa
where he implemented the sex offender team, gang supervision officers, zip
code area specific supervision and initiated the department’s membership
and cooperation with the Tulsa County Crime Task Force.
In 1991, Mr. Smith was promoted to district supervisor in District IV, Lawton.
In 1997, Mr. Smith developed systems for integrating Probation and Parole,
Lawton Community Corrections Center and ten Community Work Centers. Mr. Smith
implemented a Residential Substance Abuse Treatment program and a Career
Tech program for auto mechanics at the Lawton Community Corrections Center.
Mr. Smith has served as a board member for the Comanche County Children’s
Shelter and currently serves on the Advisory Boards of the Criminal Justice
Programs at Cameron University and the Great Plains Career Tech. He has been
an Adjunct Professor in Corrections and Criminal Justice at Cameron University
and a Correctional Consultant with ACA for a number of years.
Mr. Smith has a BS degree in Education from Central State University and
a MA degree in counseling from Trinity Theological College.
HISTORY
The Lawton Community Corrections Center (LCCC) is a community based minimum-security
correctional facility of the Southwest District Community Corrections.
Situated in the southwestern portion of Lawton, Oklahoma, the LCCC has
a housing capacity of 107 convicted male offenders. Of the 107 beds, 38
are assigned to the general population, 4 beds assigned to the “segregated
housing unit”…SHU, 45 beds assigned to work release and 20
beds are assigned to programs (RSAT). LCCC also provides offenders for
PPWP crews for government agencies.
LCCC offers medical and dental services to the entire SWDCC inmate population
except Hobart.
The LCCC also serves as host facility for private prison contract with the
Comanche County Detention Center (CCDC). The DOC has contracted with the
CCDC for 44 beds to house medium security inmates.
The LCCC opened in the early 1970’s, as the agency was attempting to
create smoother transition for the inmates from being incarcerated one day
and being back in the community that same night. Statistical data supported
the presumption that offenders who were released with meaningful employment,
adequate transportation, a home, and pro-social associates were less likely
to re-offend as opposed to those who did not. The facility was established
with the goal of providing the inmates with a steady gradual re-entry process
to address those issues and would carry over on release/discharge.
PROGRAMS AT LAWTON COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS CENTER
WORK RELEASE
The work release program consists of the assigned inmate securing a paying
job in the community. The inmate is required to go to work in the community
then return to the facility during his off time. The program requires the
inmate budget his paycheck whereby 50% goes to program support fees, 20%
to mandatory savings and 10% goes to pay court-related fees and/or fines.
The program support fees are funded to the agency’s general fund and
the mandatory savings are returned to the inmate on parole or discharge.
CAREER TECH
Career Tech is a vocational-tech education program which allows offenders
the opportunity to learn a skill prior to returning to society. The Lawton
Community Corrections Center Skills Centers’ mission statement is to
prepare inmates for success in the workplace and in the community. The Skills
Center instructor educates the inmates in fleet maintenance technology (auto
mechanics maintenance technology) and each inmate receives a certificate
for the number of hours he completes. Instructors also assist inmates in
attaining and maintaining employment.
GED/ABE
This is a general educational development program. The goal of this program
is to insure that each offender has a high school diploma or GED prior to
release from incarceration.
RESIDENTIAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE
TREATMENT (RSAT)
The RSAT Program provides substance abuse treatment for inmates with the
identified/assessed need for substance abuse treatment. Approximately nine
months in length, the RSAT program applies cognitive-behavioral intervention
to its participants. Upon Completion of the RSAT program eligible offenders
are transferred to facilities where they can continue their treatment per
the individual aftercare plans.
NA/AA
The target population of the NA/AA program is any inmate who has the desire
to achieve sobriety in their life and has a substance abuse problem.
THINKING FOR A CHANGE
This is a cognitive behavior based program that teaches participants to stop
and think before acting, to consider their reaction, control their anger,
realize that their thinking controls their behavior, and how to change. It
is cognitive behavior strategy to change anti-social behavior and increase
pro-social behavior by using positive reinforcements. It also teaches the
offender how to recognize the thinking that leads to trouble, how to know
their feelings, understand and respond to the feelings of others, how to
respond to anger, how to deal with accusations, and problem solving.
OPERATIONS
Southwest District Community Corrections (SWDCC) is a district within the
Division of Community Corrections which operates thirteen probation offices,
five community work centers, and a community correctional center. The SWDCC
Administrative Office is located at 602 SW Highland Avenue, Lawton, Oklahoma.
SWDCC provides probation and parole services in twelve counties located
in the southwest portion of Oklahoma which are specifically Grady, Cleveland,
Caddo, Garvin, McClain, Stephens, Kiowa, Jackson, Tillman, Jefferson, Comanche,
and Cotton counties. Five Community Work Centers are located in Hobart,
Frederick, Altus, Waurika, and Walters. The Community Correctional Center
is located in Lawton.
Karen Lambeth-White, District Supervisor, Central District Community Corrections,
began her 25 year career with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections as a
correctional officer at the former Women’s Treatment Facility (now
Hillside Community Corrections Center). She has held numerous other positions
to include special assistant to the director and administrative services
manager of the Atlanta Bureau of Corrections; probation and parole officer;
team supervisor; administrative assistant to assistant deputy director of
Community Corrections; operations manager for Community Corrections; and
currently serves as district supervisor for Central District Community Corrections
in Oklahoma County. Ms. Lambeth-White received a Bachelor of Arts degree
in Psychology from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, and attended graduate
studies in Administration & Supervision at Atlanta University. She is
active in her church and community.
Central District Community Corrections located in Oklahoma County, the largest,
most populous, and diverse county in the State of Oklahoma operates as one
of six probation and parole offender management units of the Oklahoma Department
of Corrections. Central District Community Corrections is responsible for
the supervision of approximately 7200 offenders either sentenced to a term
of probation or parole and inmates released from incarceration to special
supervision programs.
During 2005, Central District Community Corrections embarked upon an endeavor
that has changed the traditional method of offender management in our state.
The district adopted evidence-based practices relative to offender management,
which incorporates proven scientific principles based on best practice methods.
Since the inception of evidence-based practices, Central District has been
in the forefront relative to the implementation of practices designed to
affect offender risk of re-offending while, enhancing public safety. These
offender management practices combine proven theories, research, public policy,
and practices; all in support of each other, leading to favorable and measurable
supervision outcomes.
Central District has a staff of highly skilled criminal justice professionals
that employ results driven practices in the management of community offenders.
Our immediate goal of supervision is to protect our communities during the
offender’s readjustment and transition. Our long-term goals are based
in efforts to reduce offender risks by enhancing the offender’s intrinsic
motivation for pro-social change.
Central District Community Corrections’ employees are highly specialized
in the management of certain high-risk offenders. The district has specialized
teams working with partnering agencies or as special units to include; Drug
Court, DUI Court, Mental Health Court, Female Offender/Family Justice Initiative,
Sex Offender Management & Containment Team, Hispanic Caseload, Parole
Offender Team, Young Offender Construction Training Program, and Global Positioning
Satellite Tracking Systems. Most recently, Central District has been participating
in the National Institute of Justice’s Multi-Site Evaluation of Reduced
Caseload and Related Supervision Strategies in Managing Offenders on Probation.
This study will be concluded in April 2009 and we are looking forward to
the results of their findings.
Offenders participate in treatment programs designed to address substance
abuse, mental health, cognitive behavior, employment, education, and other
service related needs. Staff is trained in various risk assessment tools
designed to identify specific areas of offender criminogenic needs.
Central District Community Corrections has been extremely productive, pro-active,
and innovative in offender management techniques and skills. We are continuing
to move forward in best practice methods of offender management. Central
District is a district on the move. We are meeting the needs and challenges
of our communities and are affecting change in the lives of offenders we
supervise.
Michael Dunkle is an Oklahoma native and began his career with the Department
of Corrections in September 1981 as a probation and parole officer at District
II Probation and Parole in Tulsa. In 1984 he was promoted to the position
of senior probation and parole officer and again promoted in 1987 to team
supervisor. In September 1989, he assumed the duties of assistant district
supervisor in District I Probation and Parole where he remained until April
1995. It was at this time that he transferred to the role of assistant superintendent
at Tulsa Community Corrections Center. On June 15, 1996 he was promoted to
regional supervisor of District III Probation and Parole which later became
Southeast District Community Corrections.
Mr. Dunkle received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology at the University
of Oklahoma in 1978.
He is a member of the American Probation and Parole Association and the
International Community Corrections Association.
Southeast District Community Corrections spans 22 counties in southeast
Oklahoma. In the district area there are 28 political districts, 11 judicial
districts and 22 county jails and sheriff’s offices within its boundaries.
Southeast District’s district office is located in McAlester in the
first free standing DOC owned district office. The building was an eight
year project initiated after two failed attempts to locate the district office
within the City of McAlester. Construction of the new district office began
in 2003 and was completed and occupied in October in 2006. The project was
a product of appropriations provided by the Legislature and monies supplemented
to complete the project provided by the department and spanned three directors.
Southeast District Community Corrections operations is comprised of seven
probation and parole teams, five community work centers and support staff
with a total staffing of 136 employees.
An allotted staffing for probation and parole functions include 47 probation
and parole officers, two administrative assistants, six team clerks, seven
team supervisors and an assistant district supervisor who are responsible
for a total caseload of 4,575 offenders as of the end of July 2008.
Within Southeast District there are five Community work centers of SEDCC
include Idabel CWC, Ardmore CWC, Healdton CWC, Marshall County CWC and Earl
Davis CWC.
Rick Parish began his career as a correctional officer at the Lexington Regional
Treatment Center in October 1975.
When the Assessment and Reception Center opened in 1978, he was promoted
to case manager and later records officer for the A&R Unit.
In 1979, he transferred to the Pardon and Parole Board as an investigator.
The next assignment was as a Probation and parole officer in District IV’s
Norman office, during 1984.
In 1985, he served in Oklahoma County’s District VI, as the court services
supervisor, and later included supervision of the Intake Office, and the
district’s House Arrest Program.
In 1988, Rick transferred to the Population Office in Lexington and then
became the case manager supervisor over the A&R Classification Unit.
Tulsa’s District II was the next stop, in 1991, as the assistant district
supervisor. In 1998, he was promoted to the assistant deputy director in
the Community Corrections Division Office and then became Tulsa District’s,
district supervisor in 2005.
Rick has a degree in Psychology from the University of Oklahoma, served in
the Army from 1966 to 1969 with a tour of duty in Vietnam in 1966, is a past
president of OCA and was Oklahoma’s Representative to the Southern
States Correctional Association.
If you like golf, you’ll like Rick.
In District II (Tulsa), J. R. Porter was the first district supervisor, serving
from 1968 to 1971. In 1971, Earl Brewer became the second district supervisor.
Staff size in 1971 was 10 officers with an average caseload of 50. There
was a clerical staff of three. The emphasis on Probation and Parole was
truly on field contacts. For example, the officers were required to spend
80 percent of their time out of the office and to see 80 to 95 percent of
their caseload each month in the field.
In January, 1982, Edward Evans was named district supervisor and remained
until September 1, 1987, when he assumed the position of deputy warden at
Ouachita Correctional Center (now known as the Jim E. Hamilton Correctional
Center). He was followed by Bill McCollum, from 1987-1991. Bill became
the department’s grant administrator. McCollum was followed by Greg
Province, who left the district in December of 2005 to become warden of the
Jackie Brannon Correctional Center. Rick Parish succeeded District Supervisor
Province.
Programs
Drug Court/DUI Court
Tulsa County District Community Corrections has been involved with the Tulsa
County Drug Court and DUI Court program since May of 1996. Currently, Tulsa
County District Community Corrections has eight officers responsible for
participants referred by Drug Court to be under the supervision of the Department
of Corrections. Drug Court officers each supervise approximately 55 participants
at a time and serve as members of the Drug Court team. Drug Court officers
conduct weekly office visits, monthly home visits, obtain frequent urinalysis
tests, provide the team with weekly progress reports, attend staffing on
a weekly basis, and make court appearances. The progress reports contain
urinalysis-testing results, the participant’s progress or lack thereof,
and the officer’s recommendation for sanctions or referrals based upon
the participant’s needs. Drug Court is designed to last a minimum of
one-year and is not to exceed three years. There are four phases of treatment
that the participants must complete, prior to being eligible to graduate.
Participants are promoted from one phase to the new phase after they have
successfully completed the treatment requirements for each step and have
followed the rules of the performance contract.
Spanish Speaking Offender Caseload
Tulsa County District Community Corrections currently has one officer that
specializes in the supervision of Spanish speaking offenders in the Tulsa
County area. This officer supervises all Spanish speaking offenders on supervision.
The officer works closely with treatment providers, as second language providers.
Attending events in the Hispanic community helps develop a rapport between
the officer and the Hispanic offenders. This officer writes all pre-sentence
investigations ordered in Tulsa County for Hispanic offenders and works closely
with court interpreters to supervise these offenders.
Sex Offender Unit
This specialized unit at Tulsa County District Community Corrections is dedicated
to the community supervision of sex offenders in Tulsa County. A containment
approach is practiced where there are close working relationships between
probation and parole, treatment providers, polygraphists, victim advocates
and law enforcement. All officers have been trained on the unique nature
of sex offender supervision and believe that our team approach does have
a positive impact on our community. The team is responsible for completing
sex offender pre-sentence reports for Tulsa County, along with sex offense
interstate investigations. There are three primary treatment providers that
are utilized. Each of the treatment providers are members of the “Association
for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers” and utilize polygraph testing
in their treatment programs. There are two primary polygraphists who are
used and are trained in sex offender specific testing. DNA collections are
coordinated through this unit for all sex offenders. Statutory registrations
are conducted by the team to include sex offenders who are not under our
supervision and offenders requiring registration under the Mary Rippy Violent
Crime Act. The unit also closely monitors the 2000 safe zones by using a
map the officers have created indicating school zones and GPS units. The
team also works closely with the Tulsa Police and other local law enforcement
agencies ensuring offenders are not residing within these safe zones.
Parole Unit
The goal of the Tulsa County District Community Corrections parole team is
to address the needs of our offenders to enable them to be successful in
life. The resources utilized in our communities to assist offenders in developing
positive relationships within their community do help them become contributing
members of society. Currently there are three officers that specialize in
parole cases in our district. In the beginning phases of the team’s
creation many contacts were made within the community and the department
to ensure the team’s success. Contacts were made with treatment providers
for both mental health and substance abuse services. Numerous housing contacts
were made to enable and assist offenders in developing good home offers,
prior to release and to aid those that need housing. Employment contacts
within the community were also made to aid offenders in locating full-time
employment. Due to this special population, resources have been added for
indigent parole contracts with numerous providers in the community. These
providers help our offenders address numerous issues, not limited to substance
abuse, mental health, anger management and educational needs. As a group,
we have worked to make consistent decisions in reference to violations. We
have utilized numerous intermediate sanctioning options on offenders in lieu
of revocation. We have streamlined all the residence verifications through
this unit to ensure that home offers are appropriate and adequate for offenders.
We have worked with transition coordinators to help bridge the gap to assist
offenders with their transition back into the community.
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Tulsa County District Community Corrections currently has three officers
supervising 100 inmates assigned to the GPS caseload. The officers review
inmates for eligibility and ensure no one is in the excluded category. The
officers complete all GPS residence verifications and parole residence verifications
for GPS offenders. The officers are responsible for hooking up the equipment
and ensure equipment is in working order. Violations are checked daily and
the inmates are continuously monitored utilizing global positioning satellite
monitoring technology. The officers are responsible for having the GPS offenders
report monthly in the office and a home visit is completed monthly. Case
management is the officer’s responsibility including requests to staff,
earned credits and level promotions and demotions. The officers conduct misconduct
and program removal hearings. Transfer packets are completed for inmates
returning to higher security and to other districts.
Mental Health Court
Tulsa County District Community Corrections Mental Health Court caseloads
were created this year (2008) and are supervised by two PPO’s. The
Mental Health Court team functions in a similar manner to Drug Court. The
district is in the process of creating a four officer, 200 offenders, high-risk,
technical violator program. Also, new this year are female specific caseloads
for parole, GPS and probation.
Stormy Wilson has worked in Corrections for 30 years beginning in January
1978. He currently serves as district supervisor for Northeast District Community
Corrections and has served in that capacity since 1989.
He has also served as assistant deputy director in 1997 and 1998 when Probation
and Parole was reorganized into a Division. He began his career as probation
and parole officer, working his way through the ranks of team supervisor
and assistant district supervisor. He also has served since 1995 as administrator
over the Muskogee Community Corrections Center.
Mr. Wilson has conducted American Probation and Parole Association and International
Community Corrections Association national workshops in New York City, Washington,
D.C. and Ottawa, Canada.
Mr. Wilson holds a Bachelor of Science degree from West Texas State University
and a Masters degree in Education from NSU, Tahlequah.
Northeast District Community Corrections (NEDCC) is comprised of 14 counties
in northeast Oklahoma. Stormy Wilson is the district supervisor; assistant
district supervisors are Debbie Gregg and Teresa McCoin. Fifty-three probation
and parole officers are supervised by six team supervisors.
NEDCC currently supervises approximately 3,500 active probationers. At close
of July 2008, there were five sex offender caseloads, one Drug Court caseload
and one Community Sentencing caseload. NEDCC currently supervises 31 GPS
inmates and three EMP inmates.
The District Administrative Office is located in Muskogee and there are 53
officers working in sixteen sub-offices throughout the district.
Muskogee Community Corrections Center (MCCC) is a minimum-security facility
housing eighty inmates. The building was originally a motel, which was built
in 1952. The center was established as a correctional facility in 1974 and
an additional acre was purchased in 1998 north of the facility for a supply
trailer and parking area.
In 1996, MCCC became part of Northeast District Community Corrections when
residential and field services merged. It currently has a full-time staff
of 25 including security officers, case management staff, clerical, food
service, procedures and maintenance.
The average length of stay for an inmate is 176 days. During their stay at
the facility, inmates are offered services such as GED classes, Bible studies
and church services on Sundays and Wednesday evenings. In addition, inmates
are offered Life Skills, Moral Reconation Therapy and Thinking for a Change
classes.
There is a large garden and greenhouse on the compound. Produce from the
garden is used to feed the inmates and excess produce is donated to various
charity organizations.
For those inmates who qualify, there are offender work programs. Inmates
who meet qualifying criteria may participate in the Public Works Program
(P.W.P.) by working for Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, City of Tahlequah, Muskogee
County, Western Hills or the Muskogee Parks Department. Some inmates are
eligible to hold work release positions. Those who do not qualify for either
of these programs are assigned to jobs on the facility such as food service,
maintenance and laundry.
Muskogee Community Corrections Center was honored by receiving a re-accreditation
from the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections. Accreditation scores
of 100% in mandatory standards and 100% in non-mandatory standards were received
on April 18, 2008.
Warden Marty Sirmons will transfer from OSP to OSR. Warden Sirmons began his tenure with the state of Oklahoma in 1979 as budget analyst at the Office of State Finance, prior to embarking on his career as a business manager at OSR in 1981. Warden Sirmons was promoted in 1989 to the position of deputy warden at DCCC, until he promoted to the position of warden at HMCC in 1997, before returning to DCCC as the warden in 2004. He assumed the position of warden at OSP in 2006.
Warden Eric Franklin will transfer from OSR to LARC. Warden Franklin began his career with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections in 1984. He has held the positions of correctional officer, sergeant, correctional counselor, captain, unit manager, warden’s assistant and assistant inspector general. Warden Franklin was a member of executive staff as the administrator of Internal Affairs. He also served as deputy warden of JCCC until he was asked to head a pilot project by serving as warden of the JDCC and EWCC. He was then promoted to warden at JCCC until 2006, when he accepted the warden’s position at OSR in Granite.
Warden Bruce Howard will transfer from JEHCC to HMCC. He began his career with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections in 1978 at MACC. During his time at MACC, Warden Howard served in the capacity of senior case manager, records manager, procedures officer, case manager supervisor, and in 1989, was promoted to deputy warden. He served as acting warden of MACC, HMCC, and JDCC, as well as OSR, prior to assuming the duties of JEHCC warden in 2002.
Warden Haskell Higgins will transfer from HMCC to JEHCC. Warden Higgins began his tenure with the Department of Corrections in 1989 as a correctional officer. He has since held the positions of sergeant, correctional counselor, case manager, procedures officer, warden’s assistant, and unit manager. In 2001, he was named training administrator of the Department of Corrections Training Academy in Wilburton, a position he held until 2004 when he was promoted to warden of HMCC.
Warden Randy Workman is transferring from LARC to OSP. He began his career with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections as a case manager at MACC in 1986 and later transferred to HMCC as the procedures officer. Warden Workman held the positions of unit manager at HMCC and deputy warden of OSP, in addition to being detailed to the positions of facility health services administrator, and deputy director of Medical Services. Prior to assuming the warden position at LARC in 2004, he was promoted to warden of DCCC in 2001. Warden Workman’s vast array of experience will serve OSP and the agency well.
Quality Assurance Chat - by Debbie Boyer, SPHR, Administrator of Quality Assurance
This month’s column has a different focus than previous columns because
Quality Assurance is excited to share information regarding a planned new
component to the Quality Assurance System.
During the month of October, Quality Assurance staff have the opportunity
to attend an intensive training session on Rapid Process Improvement Event
facilitation.
So exactly what is Rapid Process Improvement?
Rapid Process Improvement is an employee-driven process adapted from lean
manufacturing techniques to meet special needs of the service sector. It
is designed to use employee expertise to quickly reduce or eliminate inefficiencies
in work processes in an effort to save money, time, and continuously improve
the operations of the organization.
In one company’s claims processing example, the Rapid Process Improvement
Event resulted in reducing claims payment errors by 75 to 90 percent; processing
claims up to 88 percent faster; and saving more than $1 million with $566,414
directly attributed to process improvement initiatives.
Rapid Process Improvement Events differ from the work done by Process Action
Teams.
Process Action Teams are chartered to examine problems with agency-wide or
work-location specific impact.
Process Action Teams using a structured problem solving process to identify
the problem, gather and analyze data related to the problem, generate potential
solutions, select and plan the solution, implement the solution, and evaluate
the solution. Process Action Teams are problem-focused and data-driven.
Rapid Process Improvements Events are process-focused and use employee expertise
to dissect the process and identify inefficiencies such as duplications,
nonvalue added work, etc.
You will be kept updated once training has been completed and progress made
toward incorporating Rapid Process Improvement into the existing Quality
Assurance System.
For up-to-date information about the Quality Assurance System, please visit
our web site at: http://www.doc.state.ok.us/adminservices/quality/index.html
Training Conducted by
Master Black Belt Trainer . . .
The training is being conducted by Steve Dickinson, a Master Black Belt in
Six Sigma. Mr. Dickinson received his Black Belt in 1989 while working for
the Japanese Deming Prize winner Florida Power and Light Company.
He has been training and coaching Six Sigma Green and Black belts since 1992.
Mr. Dickinson is the developer of the proprietary RPI Method and has taught
over 1,500 facilitators in this method for the last 13 years.
Your feedback is very important to us!
Please share your thoughts regarding the Oklahoma Department of Corrections
Quality Assurance System by e-mail to: improvementatwork@doc.state.ok.us
SHADOWING -
Warden Millicent Newton-Embry
by Beverly Henderson
I had a unique opportunity to spend a day observing Warden Millicent Newton-Embry
at Mabel Bassett Correctional Center (MBCC) through a mentorship project
sponsored by the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice (NABCJ).
Prior to this scheduled date, I had an opportunity to visit with the warden
and discuss my Department of Corrections (DOC) career goals and aspirations;
in addition, to discuss my trials and tribulations. The warden listened intensively,
she sympathized and empathized all the while encouraging and offering sound
pearls of wisdom for continued success within DOC.
The day of shadowing began with the warden in conference with MBCC department
heads. I listened as the department heads made their required status reports
and the warden reflected, affirmed and delegated any required additional
directives. After the conference, the warden diligently handled other staff
issues and questions.
The warden then facilitated a portion of orientation with newly arrived female
inmates. She spoke frankly but with compassion as she advised the females
of their expectations to comply with the institution rules and guidelines.
She reminded them these requirements are for them to be able to discharge
their term at MBCC without incident and to ensure their own personal safety.
She encouraged the females to talk with staff about any issues and offered
them opportunity to talk with her when necessary.
The rest of the day was filled with the warden touring the facility and taking
time to talk with various staff and offenders. Upon entering the RSU, the
warden personally approached each cell housing unit and inquired from each
inmate of their current well-being and she gave time to those with issues.
This same process continued with each housing unit and the inmates on the
yard. While observing the warden’s demeanor and management style, I
found her to be fair, firm and consistent in addition to being compassionate
in a Christian manner.
At the close of the day, I could only commend the warden for displaying the
positive attributes of a person in a leadership role. The warden handles
her difficult job with such poise and grace. I reflected and affirmed her
skillful balance of sternness and levity. The warden shared with me events
of her tenure with DOC and her thankfulness of support from those who had
previously blazed the trail for her. The warden openly offered the same to
me of which I graciously and respectfully accepted her mentorship.
In conclusion, I would be amiss in not thanking NABCJ for the Mentoring Shadow
Program. NABCJ is a necessary and vital organization which enhances and embraces
a person’s opportunity to excel through continued quality educational
seminars and networks of knowledgeable individuals. I am proud to be associated
with such a quality organization.
Someone You Should Know - Jimmy Lane
Oh, the many talents and experiences of Jimmy Lane! Artist, singer, songwriter,
teacher, designer, martial artist, and all around great guy. Jimmy truly
is someone you should know.
Graduating from Central State University in 1974 with a B.A. in Fine Arts
Painting, he received the CSU 1973/74 Outstanding Artist of the Year Award.
After building his own attached home studio, he began freelancing artwork
for shows and interior decorators winning various jewelry, ceramics, and
mainly painting awards throughout Oklahoma including Philbrook Museum of
Art's 33rd Annual Tri-State Exhibit.
In 1976, he began a three-night-a-week solo gig at the Old Dodge City Club & Restaurant
located in the Trail's End Shopping Center in Edmond, Oklahoma where he played
guitar, harmonica, and sang. He was also writing songs during this time and
recorded a few commercials and jingles whereby winning the Political Jingle
of the Year Award (Make Your Corporation Commissioner – Joe Bailey
Cobb) written by his good friend Jimmy Ledford. In time he put together a
four-piece progressive country band entitled Jimmy Lane & the Great Plains
Band. With the exception of Jimmy personally missing one evening's performance
(to be present for the birth of his second son), they played throughout the
state of Oklahoma a minimum of three nights per week never missing a week
for the next ten years.
Jimmy eventually began his graduate studies at UCO while making a living
performing, painting and teaching drawing and painting throughout the Oklahoma
City area galleries, studios, schools, universities, and contracted as an
Oklahoma Artist in Resident. He was commissioned in 1982 and sold four Columbia
space shuttle watercolor paintings that toured the Smithsonian Institute.
He ultimately received his K-12 Teaching Certification and his M.Ed. in Community
Junior College Education.
By the mid to late 1980's Oklahoma's oil and resource market began to fail.
Nightclubs were closing, interior decorators were leaving Oklahoma and going
east, citizens were dropping out of painting and workshop classes, and less
art was being purchased. It became much more difficult to freelance art and
music in our state. Everyone encouraged Jimmy to move either east or west,
but his heart was in the state of Oklahoma.
On February 1, 1989, Jimmy left the Oklahoma State Artist in Resident program,
closed his private watercolor studio, disbanded his progressive country band,
and resigned from the public school teaching assignments to begin working
for the Department of Corrections at the Mabel Bassett Correctional Center.
His official title was MBCC Arts & Crafts Supervisor. He was assigned
to supervise six individual Institution Programs Incorporated (IPI) instructors
who were contracted to enter MBCC. Jimmy coordinated and supervised these
IPI instructors with approximately 300 general population offenders participating
within MBCC arts & crafts, band/music, debate club, jewelry making, sewing,
quilting, and painting. He personally took over these individual programs
as IPI faded out in 1995. As an artist he was called upon to paint many signs,
banners, posters, watercolors for DOC values and conference posters for print
and distribution, as well as design facility uniform security patches, silk
screening prints, award and honor pins, and tags. He also designed OCA and
ACA logos for booklets and notebooks, tote bags, extensive and various t-shirt
designs for numerous facilities and the Run Against Child Abuse Awareness
program, as well as a variety of calligraphy projects.
Within the first few months of this new career, he was given the assignments
and titles of MBCC Beauty Shop Supervisor, Arts & Crafts Therapist for
special needs offenders, Sound Man (P.A. systems) for the Board of Corrections
and Probation & Parole, and Children & Mothers' Program (CAMP) assistant.
Due to his personal interest and years of martial arts experience (he holds
eleven black belt degrees in the disciplines of Aikido, Jeet-Kune-Do, Philipino
Kali, Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu and Indonesian Silat), Jimmy was allowed to become
the MBCC Self-Defense Instructor, PR-24 Instructor, Expandable Baton Instructor,
and Use-of-Force Instructor resulting in CERT membership for approximately
six years.
In 1996, he was promoted to Activities Officer II. Along with his arts & crafts
supervisor duties, he was given the assignment of supervising the gymnasium
activities, CAMP, and the inmate welfare and recreation budget. The entire
MBCC facility, job, assignments, and team moved from Oklahoma City to McLoud
in May of 2003 where the offender population quadrupled.
Jimmy continued in his role at MBCC until April 21, 2008, when he was promoted
to Oklahoma Correctional Training Officer III at the newly relocated Oklahoma
Correctional Training Academy in Norman. He continues to share his vast array
of talents and experiences in his new role and is a great asset to the academy.
Jimmy is married to Debbie Lane, Human Resources Management Specialist III
at DOC headquarters, and they will soon be celebrating their 39th wedding
anniversary. They have two sons James and Matthew. His hobbies include motorcycles,
boating, scuba diving, shooting and hunting. He is cousin to OU President
David Boren, country singer Hoyt Axton, and his aunt May Boren Axton wrote
Heartbreak Hotel recorded by Elvis Presley.
With all his journeys and life experiences Jimmy states he's the same husband,
father, artist, musician, songwriter, martial artist, teacher, employee,
friend, and mainly the Christian he has spent his lifetime striving to be.
Yes, Jimmy Lane truly is someone you should know.
